Oedo-Botania (외도 보타니아)

Overview

“Botania” is a portmanteau of "botani-" (plants) and "utopia" (paradise), and Oedo-Botania represents a paradise for plants on the sea. It is surrounded by the blue and clear seas of Geoje, and you can see the Haegeumgang Islets, Hongdo Island, and Tsushima Island in the distance. The total area is 148,760㎡ (45,000 pyeong), divided into Seodo Island and Dongdo Island. The former was developed into Oedo-Botania, while the latter (22,017㎡) is preserved in its natural state, home to 64 native plant species and over 1,000 rare subtropical plants from around the world. Oedo-Botania was designed with Buckingham Palace Garden as its motif, and the Venus Garden—the signature attraction of Oedo-Botania—features twelve Venus statues harmoniously integrated with the plants. The second Hill of Love observatory is home to a 300-year-old guardian tree where residents once held ceremonies for the village’s well-being and bountiful fishing. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Venus Garden, Lee House, and the Flower Garden. The “Stairway to Heaven” was originally created by planting 3,000 tangerine trees on land where residents once cultivated fields, along with 8,000 cypress trees planted as windbreaks against the fierce sea winds. However, due to damage from Typhoon Maemi, it is now composed of various ornamental trees, including pagoda trees, arranged in a tapestry-like pattern. The lighthouse, designed to resemble the shape of Oedo Island, is the only one of its kind to allow visitors to explore its maze-like interior, adding to the fun of exploration. ◎ Travel Information to Discover Hallyu’s Charm Oedo-Botania appears as the island that Jun-sang, who had lost his sight after a traffic accident, created for his first love, Yoo-jin, in the final episode of the K-Drama "Winter Sonata(2002)." The “Lee House” in particular—the place where the two leads meet in the show—appears as a Mediterranean-style house when viewed from the Venus Garden, but is actually built in the traditional Korean style, divided into anchae and sarangchae.