The Cherry Blossom Trails of Korea: A Guide to Spring's Bloom

Follow the cherry blossom trails across Korea to witness the country awash in pink every spring. Learn about the best locations and times to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom and the cultural significance of this enchanting season.

 

Cherry blossoms look their best in Korea during the pink season of the year, when all color tones are transformed into beautiful landscape shades of pink and white. Cherry blossoms, called "beotkkot" in Korean, mean a lot to the culture; they stand in place of life transience and invite everybody to enjoy transient beauty moments. Its short blooming period leads people to celebrate the transient beauty in nature.

 

Best Locations for Cherry Blossoms:

 

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival: One of the greatest in South Korea, the festival is annually held in Jinhae district, located in the city of Changwon. More than 350 thousand cherry trees turn this area into a pink ocean. Of course, Yeojwacheon Stream and Gyeonghwa Station are spots to see those great cherry blossom tunnels.

 

Seoul: The capital city provides many viewpoints for cherry blossoms, of which Yeouido Hangang Park is one of them, where the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival is held.

 

Especially by night, when the trees are all illuminated and the walks along the Han River lined with cherry blossoms from the park are inspiring.

 

Equally good: the Seokchon Lake area or the vicinity of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

 

Jeju Island: Being one of the earliest places on the peninsula to have views of cherry blossoms, King Cherry Trees start blooming from the end of March. The Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival takes place in Jeonnong-ro and around Jeju National University, which both provide great sights during this blooming season. Gyeongju becomes more charming with the city of historical sites surrounded by fully bloomed cherry blossoms around the sight of ancient temples and ruins. Especially, the vicinity around Bomun Lake is famous for the scenic beauty of full bloom.

 

Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival: Around the area where Hwagae Market in Hadong, Gyeongsangnam-do, is located, cherry blossom trees are all around, making it look very much like a corridor. The road has now become quite famous as Marriage Road, and people say that if a couple walked along the road with the flowers, hand in hand, they would marry.

 

Best Times to See Cherry Blossoms: Although the time of full bloom is somewhat variable each year due to the difference in region and weather, the average flowering season of cherry blossoms in Korea is from late March to mid-April. The blossoming wave moves northward in the next weeks from such places as Jeju Island and Busan, with blossoms making it as far north in Korea as beyond Seoul.

 

Cultural Significance: The cherry blossom season is more than just flower beauty; it's steeped into Korean culture and tradition. Festivals and events are important aids to the interrelationship of man and nature because most of them discuss or touch on themes such as manipulation and impermanence of life. The most favorite thing in Korea, a favorite thing in neighboring Japan. It is hanami, picnics under blooming cherry trees that are always visited by friends and families. It is in this season that both come together in life, sharing food with good times and beautiful scenes. Walking the trails of Korea's cherry blossoms is walking within the fullness of its natural beauty and cultural heritage. It is the season of renewal, festivity, and making memories that will last forever on the picture-perfect canvas of spring blooms.