Anmyeondo in Taean, South Chungcheong, will transform into a "space for healing" starting on the 25th. A hands-on expo where visitors can see, hear and touch a variety of horticultural resources such as flowers, fruits and vegetables to heal body and mind will be held here.
The Taean International Horticultural Therapy Expo Organizing Committee said on the 15th it will hold the expo for one month from Apr. 25 to May 24 at the Kkotji Coastal Park area on Anmyeondo in Taean County. South Chungcheong Province and Taean County will co-host.
The venue was created as eight exhibition and experience spaces, including ▲ special hall ▲ international exchange hall ▲ industry hall ▲ South Chungcheong smart agriculture hall ▲ healing agriculture hall ▲ healing garden ▲ AI harmony garden ▲ playground. An organizing committee official said, "From the design stage of the venue, we organically consolidation the forest, garden and sea landscapes so that the very process of visitors moving through the spaces becomes healing."
The special hall is designed as an immersive space to experience horticultural therapy with all five senses. In eight themed gardens, including a welcome garden and a fragrance garden, visitors can take part in experiences that use the five senses. The healing garden offers personalized music based on AI emotion measurements. Visitors can also see world gardens curated by overseas artists from the United Kingdom, Latin America and China.
At the international exchange hall, indoor and outdoor gardens inspired by overseas fairy tales unfold. The industry hall and the South Chungcheong smart agriculture hall showcase Korea's advanced horticultural technologies.
On opening day, performances by popular singers are also scheduled. At 6 p.m. on the 25th, Lee Chan-won, along with Kim Yong-bin, Gummy and Dynamic Duo, will take the stage at a special outdoor stage in the expo parking lot. At 2 p.m. on the 28th, KBS "National Singing Contest" Taean County edition will be recorded on location around Kkotji Beach, with celebratory performances by Kim Yeon-ja, Bae Il-ho, Kang Moon-kyung, Kim So-yoo and Na Ye-won.
Admission is 15,000 won for adults, 12,000 won for teenagers (ages 13–18) and 9,000 won for children (ages 3–12). A 2,000 won discount applies for advance purchases.
Taean County will also run a "pet-friendly lodging discount promotion" during the event period for tourists visiting with pets. Visitors who use pet-friendly accommodations or campsites in the area can receive discounts of up to 30,000 won (15,000 won for camping facilities). Discount coupons will be issued on the NOL and Campit apps starting on the 22nd. In the Taean area, there are about 200 accommodations and camping facilities that allow pets.
Oh Jin-gi, secretary-general of the organizing committee, said, "This expo features a differentiated composition across all areas, from exhibitions and experiences to performances," adding, "We will make it an event where visitors can feel true healing through a process they participate in directly."
South Chungcheong Province is also making a final push to ensure a successful event. Governor Kim Tae-heum conducted a first on-site inspection on the 6th and is scheduled to conduct a second on-site inspection on the 16th.
At a bureau and office chiefs' meeting on the 13th, Governor Kim said, "With the opening of the (Taean Horticulture Expo) imminent, it is time for a final check of facilities and programs overall," adding, "Any shortcomings revealed during on-site inspections should be addressed immediately to improve completeness."
Governor Kim in particular stressed, "This expo should not end as a one-off event but become a turning point that leads to consolidation with South Chungcheong's future industries," adding, "We need to make Taean the center of Korea's horticulture industry. Let's prepare with a focus on outcomes so that visiting overseas buyers can sign actual export contracts."