Your Guide to ‘Picnic Korean’ in Seoul!

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], where we upgrade your Korean skills every day!

Have you ever wanted to tell your Korean friends about your favorite peaceful spot in your city? Or maybe you want to describe the beautiful park you saw in a K-Drama? Today, we’re going to learn how to describe your favorite park in Korean!

Lately in Korea, with the weather getting nicer, everyone is going out for “피크닉” (picnics). You’ll see Instagram flooded with beautiful pictures of people enjoying the sun in parks like Seoul Forest or along the Han River. Learning today’s phrases will help you join in on the fun and sound like a local!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are some essential words and patterns to describe any park perfectly.

• Korean Expression: 아름답다 (areumdapda)
• Pronunciation [Romanization]: a-reum-dap-da
• English Meaning: To be beautiful
• Detailed Description: This is the classic word for “beautiful” and is used to describe scenery, art, or a person. It’s a bit more poetic and formal than 예쁘다 (yeppeuda – pretty). You can use it to describe a stunning view in a park. When you use it in a sentence, it changes to 아름다워요 (areumdawoyo).

• Korean Expression: 산책하기 좋다 (sanchaekhagi jota)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: san-chaek-ha-gi jo-ta
• English Meaning: To be good for taking a walk

• Detailed Description: This is a super useful pattern! It combines a verb stem (산책하다 – to take a walk) with -기 좋다, which means “good for doing…” You can use this for many activities. For example, “사진 찍기 좋아요” (sajin jjikgi joayo – It’s good for taking pictures).

• Korean Expression: (으)로 유명하다 ((eu)ro yumyeonghada)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: (eu)-ro yu-myeong-ha-da
• English Meaning: To be famous for…

• Detailed Description: This pattern helps you explain what a place is known for. If the noun before it ends in a vowel, you use -로 유명하다. If it ends in a consonant, you use -으로 유명하다. For example, “이 공원은 벚꽃으로 유명해요” (i gongwoneun beotkkocheuro yumyeonghaeyo – This park is famous for its cherry blossoms).

• Korean Expression: 한적하다 (hanjeokada)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: han-jeo-ka-da
• English Meaning: To be quiet, tranquil, secluded
• Detailed Description: While 조용하다 (joyonghada) simply means “quiet,” 한적하다 has a more positive and peaceful nuance. It describes a place that is pleasantly free from crowds and noise. It’s the perfect word for a hidden gem of a park. In a sentence, you’d say 한적해요 (hanjeokaeyo).

Example Conversation

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation!

A: 주말에 뭐 해요? (Jumare mwo haeyo?)

What are you doing this weekend?

B: 올림픽공원에 갈 거예요. 요즘 피크닉하기 좋은 날씨잖아요. (Ollimpik-gongwone gal geoyeyo. Yojeum pikeunikhagi joeun nalssijanayo.)

I’m going to Olympic Park. The weather is perfect for a picnic these days, you know.

A: 와! 거기 정말 아름답죠! 특히 산책하기 좋은 곳이에요. (Wa! Geogi jeongmal areumdapjo! Teuki sanchaekhagi joeun gosieyo.)

Wow! That place is so beautiful, isn’t it? It’s an especially good place for a walk.

B: 맞아요. 그리고 ‘나홀로나무’는 사진 찍는 장소로 유명해요. 저는 좀 한적한 곳에서 책을 읽고 싶어요. (Majayo. Geurigo ‘Nahollonamu’-neun sajin jjingneun jangso-ro yumyeonghaeyo. Jeoneun jom hanjeokan goseseo chaegeul ilgo sipeoyo.)

That’s right. And the ‘Lonely Tree’ is famous for being a photo spot. I want to read a book in a more tranquil area.

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis

The ‘Aesthetic Picnic’ (감성 피크닉) Trend!

In Korea, a picnic isn’t just about a blanket and a sandwich. It’s an event! Young Koreans, especially the Z generation, love having “감성 피크닉” (gamseong pikunik – aesthetic/emotional picnic).

• Rentable Picnic Sets: You don’t even need to own anything! Near popular parks like Seoul Forest or the Han River, you can rent a full picnic set, which often includes a cute basket, a pretty mat, fake flowers, wine glasses, and a small wooden table. It’s all for the perfect Instagram shot!
• Delivery is Key: Why pack food when you can get it delivered right to the park? “치맥” (chimaek – chicken and beer) delivered to your mat at the Han River is a classic Korean experience.
• As Seen on TV: You’ve definitely seen this trend in K-Dramas! Think of the romantic park dates in shows like Queen of Tears or King the Land. The characters are always in a beautiful, scenic park. Now you know how to describe those scenes in Korean! Using a phrase like “이 공원은 드라마 촬영지로 유명해요” (i gongwoneun deurama chwaryeongjiro yumyeonghaeyo – This park is famous as a K-drama filming location) will make you sound like a true insider!

Let’s Review and Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned four amazing expressions to describe your favorite park: 아름답다 (beautiful), 산책하기 좋다 (good for a walk), (으)로 유명하다 (famous for), and 한적하다 (tranquil).

Practice Time!
Let’s try making your own sentence. Fill in the blanks below to describe a park you know.

제가 좋아하는 공원은 [Park Name]이에요. 그곳은 ___________(으)로 유명해요. 그리고 아주 ___________(adjective)_________.
(My favorite park is [Park Name]. It’s famous for _________. And it’s very _________.)

Share your sentences in the comments below using the expressions we learned today. I can’t wait to read them! Keep up the fantastic work