A promotional poster for Seoul Grand Park's Rose Garden Festival / Courtesy of Seoul Grand Park
An early surge of warm weather has pushed some 45,000 rose plants into full bloom ahead of schedule at Seoul Grand Park, setting the stage for its annual Rose Garden Festival beginning May 30.
The nine-day event, which runs through June 7, will transform the park’s Theme Garden into a literary landscape themed after Lewis Carroll’s "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland." Featuring more than 90 distinct varieties of roses, the festival grounds will include immersive photo zones styled after the classic tale, alongside an outdoor exhibition of prize-winning photography from last year’s competition.
Beyond the visual spectacle, park organizers are leaning into experiential retail and programming to draw weekend crowds. On Saturdays and Sundays, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the park will host "Alice’s Atelier." The interactive workshop allows families to craft items inspired by the Mad Hatter’s tea party, including custom teacups, tea coasters and flower crowns, alongside a specialized woodworking class.
For the more competitively inclined, the park is launching the 13th Rose Garden Photo Contest. Submissions will be accepted from June 1 through June 14, with the Seoul Metropolitan Government awarding official certificates and a combined purse of 4.5 million won ($3,300) to 28 winners.
