Semiwon 세미원

Semiwon is a park located in Yongdam-ri, Yangseo-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do that was founded on the principle of “natural purification.” The name “Semiwon” comes from an old proverb that says “one can cleanse his mind by looking at water and enlighten his spirit by looking at flowers.” To further emphasize the idea of literal and figurative cleansing, the park was designed with paths made out of washboards and is decorated with lotus-themed poetry and drawings.

Semiwon is home to an army of water plants such as lotus flowers, water lilies, and irises, all of which are plants that are well-known for their natural purification properties. Not just a beautiful sight to behold, the plants also have an important function. The 180,000 square-meter park consists of six ponds through water is filtered and purified before flowing back into the Hangang River.

Major facilities at Semiwon include the Environment Learning Center, Trial Cultivation Complex, and the World Water Lily Garden, which contains over 100 varieties of water lilies. Visitors to the park can also find water fountains, an observation deck, a traditional wind gauging device called Punggidae, and Monet’s Garden, which looks as if it came right out of the famous picture by French artist Claude Monet.