Korean Pavillion
Erica's Original Notes
A gift to the Garden from the Korean Government following the closure our city's world exposition. Unfortunately, it proved to be a costly move, and to add to the problems, the roof leaked! However, it has been a great acquisition and has been beautifully placed between two old acacia trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) which add to the feeling of its permanence. Here visitors can rest in its shelter and admire the view, just as Korean scholars would have done.
On June 6, 1987, it was dedicated during a very colourful ceremony which included dancers from a local Korean cultural centre.
In the vicinity of the pavilion are plants having their origins in Korea (but not, of course, the acacia trees!), such as Hibiscus syriacus, the national flower of Korea, adopted in antiquity from China, and Abeliophyllum distichum, the white forsythia, belonging to the Olive family.
Updates 2013 (MG)
The decor of the pavilion was restored in 2005 through the support of the local Korean business community and the government of Korea who brought in three masters of the Dancheong technique which stains the wood rather than paints it.
Campanula takesimana, Korean bellflower, is planted around the pavilion. It has a long-lasting flower and spreads to form a ground cover. We have the white form.