As summer heat intensifies, Seoul has designated Boramae Park as an official nighttime heat shelter, transforming it into a “restorative garden” in the heart of the city.
Operating daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. through the end of September, the park offers a unique blend of cooling landscapes, cultural experiences, and urban greenery.
Boramae Park serves as both a main venue for the ongoing 2025 Seoul International Garden Expo and a public refuge during heatwaves.
Since the expo opened on May 22, over 2.76 million people have visited as of June 18. Visitors can enjoy 111 themed gardens spread across 400,000 square meters, including gardens curated by domestic and international designers, corporate installations, and public sector contributions.
The newly expanded night programming features illuminated garden displays, water features including a stream and waterfall, and misting systems like cooling fog and spray installations. Indoor rest areas are available at the Garden Culture Center until 9 p.m., and outdoor water features now run until 10 p.m.
The park has also increased waterfall operations from three to five times per day and extended stream hours to 9 p.m.
Tree cover across 60% of the park—including 350,000 planted trees—creates a measurable cooling effect. A report by the National Institute of Forest Science confirms that urban forests can lower average daytime temperatures by 3 to 7°C, with a single plane tree absorbing heat equivalent to running five air conditioners for five hours.
The park’s amenities include shaded rest decks, benches, pavilions, and open lawns for evening relaxation. In total, over 1,300 square meters of shaded rest areas and more than 1,000 benches and tables are available throughout the park.
To ensure safety during night visits, the city is working with Dongjak Police and Boramae Hospital to respond quickly to heat-related health emergencies. Additional lighting, CCTV monitoring, and increased patrols are also in place.
Boramae Park is listed as an official cooling center on the National Disaster Safety Portal (www.safekorea.go.kr) and can also be found on Naver and Kakao Map.
