Seoul Forest was supposed to feel like a gentle spring escape: gardens, walking paths, photo spots, and Pokémon hiding among the trees. Instead, opening day showed just how powerful nostalgia can be when a beloved childhood brand meets a real-world destination.

Pokémon Secret Forest opened May 1 as part of the 2026 Seoul International Garden Show, a massive public event running through October 27 across Seoul Forest and nearby areas. Seoul says this year’s show is its largest and longest yet, with 167 gardens, 90,000 square meters of garden space, and a 10 km route connecting Seoul Forest, Seongsu-dong, and surrounding neighborhoods. Pokémon Secret Forest is scheduled separately through June 21.

That mix was irresistible. Families, fans, collectors, and casual visitors poured into the area on Korea’s Labor Day holiday. What could have been a quiet garden visit quickly turned into a reminder that Pokémon is no longer just a game or cartoon. For many people, it is childhood, family memories, and a reason to get outside.

The happy rush also became a safety issue. Korean media reported that crowds packed Seongsu-dong and Seoul Forest, with Seoul estimating about 40,000 people around Seongsu Cafe Street by noon. Authorities received crowd-safety reports, police and firefighters were sent to the area, and organizers paused parts of Pokémon Mega Festa (city-wide event), the Pokémon GO Seoul Stamp Rally (one of the mega festa locations) in particular. No injuries were reported

It was a hugely popular public event that appears to have overwhelmed the opening-day crowd plan.

The good news is that the larger garden show continues for months, and Pokémon Secret Forest is scheduled to remain open through June 21. For visitors, the lesson is simple: this may be one of Seoul’s most charming spring attractions, but it is probably not a place to visit at peak crowd hours.

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