The Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Jeon Jae-soo) announced on September 22 that the F1963 Garden, located in Suyeong-gu (Mangmi-dong), has been selected for the "2026 Top 30 Beautiful Private Gardens" by the Korea Forest Service.

The "Top 30 Beautiful Private Gardens" initiative is designed to discover outstanding private gardens across the country, introduce their beauty and the stories nurtured by their owners to the public, foster greater public interest in private gardens, and spread vibrant garden cultures. In the final 2026 selections, 30 private gardens nationwide made the list, with the F1963 Garden proudly claiming the title as the sole representative from Busan. 

The F1963 Garden was originally designated as "Busan’s Private Garden No. 1" in December 2024. It is nestled within F1963, a multi-cultural complex transformed through the regenerative architectural renovation of a wire manufacturing plant established by Kiswire in 1963.

The name "F1963" is a combination of "F" for "Factory" and "1963," the year the facility was first built. By incorporating gardens into spaces that preserve old factory buildings and their original frames, the site creates a harmonious blend of industrial heritage and nature.

Notably, rather than simply adding greenery to an existing space, the F1963 Garden seamlessly connects aged industrial architecture with botanical landscapes, allowing visitors to experience both the historical significance of an industrial facility and the organic beauty of nature. Various garden plants, water features, and rest areas are thoughtfully arranged to create distinct sceneries and atmospheres across different zones. 

The F1963 Garden features diverse themed sections that embrace the unique history and characteristics of the space:

Sori-gil (Sound Path): A bamboo forest trail inspired by the straight yet flexible nature of steel wire. The walkway incorporates recycled concrete from the old factory floor, preserving the traces of time while naturally bridging the boundary between the garden and the existing architecture, creating a unique contrast and harmony between industrial remnants and nature. 

Dalbit Garden (Moonlight Garden): An ecological garden transformed from a former wastewater treatment plant. It beautifully reinterprets F1963's industrial heritage by blending water lilies, garden plants, and a glass greenhouse. 
Danpung Garden (Maple Garden): A relaxing space designed for visitors to enjoy maple foliage and the cool shade of zelkova trees, offering a close encounter with nature right in the middle of the urban environment.
Building upon the selection of the F1963 Garden into the "Top 30 Beautiful Private Gardens," the Busan Metropolitan Government plans to continuously promote the value of exceptional gardens cultivated by the private sector while expanding local garden culture.

Furthermore, Busan intends to link public gardens—such as the Busan Nakdonggang River Garden—with private gardens to roll out diverse garden cultural programs. This initiative aims to expand opportunities for citizens to experience various gardens in their daily lives and strengthen the cooperative foundation for private gardens to build a vibrant "Garden City Busan".

"The F1963 Garden is a representative private garden of Busan that has been reborn as a new cultural space by adding the beauty of nature to the historical setting of an industrial facility," Mayor Jeon Jae-soo stated. "Taking this selection as a momentum, we will continue to discover outstanding private gardens and make ongoing efforts to spread a rich garden culture so that citizens can enjoy greenery close to their everyday lives."

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