Step inside Jamwon Hangang Park and the scenery shifts in a way that feels almost out of place in central Seoul. River breezes set waves of pink-tipped stems swaying across the Grass Garden — and come October, the pink muhly grass and companion ornamental grasses reach their seasonal peak, making a Han River stroll a genuinely different experience.
Why October Is the Right Time to Visit
Pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) holds its green foliage through summer before sending up flower heads that shift from pink to deep purple as autumn deepens. According to the official information for the Jamwon Hangang Park Grass Garden, the display continues through mid-November, making October the period when colour is at its richest. When the river wind sweeps over the miscanthus and ornamental grasses at the same time, the light catches layers of green, pink, and silver depending on the angle — a scene that is rare in any urban park in Seoul.
What to See in the Grass Garden
The garden was established in July 2018. It contains 136,000 plants spanning 25 perennial grass species, including pink muhly, Carex kobomugi, Carex morrowii, variegated miscanthus, 'Green Light', 'Morning Light', and others, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government Han River Project Headquarters' official introduction. While the garden changes character with every season, October — when the pink muhly flushes pink — draws the most visitors looking to photograph it. Having autumn miscanthus and pink muhly together in a single frame is something that is hard to replicate elsewhere within Seoul city limits. The garden has also been used as a K-drama filming location, and a visit makes it easy to understand why.
Getting There
Take Seoul Subway Line 3 to Jamwon Station and exit through Exit 4. Use the Sinjamwon Nadeulmok (riverside access gate) to reach Jamwon Hangang Park; the Grass Garden is near the outdoor swimming pool area. Public transport access is straightforward, with no transfers required from central Seoul.
Tips for Your Walk
Entry is free, and Hangang Park is open year-round with no closing days. Weekend afternoons in October can be busy with visitors coming to take photographs. An early-morning visit or a weekday afternoon gives you a quieter experience along the flower path. Late afternoon, when the light falls from behind, makes the pink flower heads glow with a translucent quality. On windy days the entire grass planting moves in unison, producing a rippling wave effect that can be even more striking than a calm day. Before you go, check the Han River Project Headquarters' official channels for that year's bloom conditions to make the most of your visit.
