[Joyongjun's Travel Journey] The Flower Breeze Will Blow After 4 Years

Spring Flower Festival Held After 4 Years: How Far Have You Been?
Along the Seomjingang River, Vibrant Yellow, Red, and White Flowers
Abundant Spring Festivals Including Seocheon Camellia and Jinhae Gunhangje

Spring has begun. Spring festivals that were halted or scaled down due to COVID-19 have returned in full splendor after four years, thanks to the easing of quarantine guidelines. Local governments are busy preparing to welcome tourists, each hoping for a successful spring festival. Especially in the southern provinces, the landscape is ablaze with colorful blossoms. If you embark on a spring flower journey, how can you avoid places like Gwangyang and Gurye in Jeonnam? Nestled by Jirisan Mountain and the Seomjin River, these areas are famous spots where flowers that herald the arrival of spring bloom first in a relay every year. The blue waves of the Seomjin River are adorned with white plum blossoms fluttering gracefully, eventually scattering their white petals in a carefree dance. The Plum Blossom and Sansuyu (Cornelian cherry) festivals officially open this week. Traffic congestion along the Seomjin River is also tremendous. There is concern that visitors might tire from the crowds and vehicles before even enjoying the vibrant spring flowers. However, after waiting so long for spring, we hope you can embrace it with a somewhat relaxed heart. After the Seomjin River spring flowers end, spring flower festivals continue nationwide, including the camellia flowers in Seocheon, Chungnam, and the Gunhangje Naval Port Festival.

The white plum blossoms in Maehwa Village, Gwangyang, are glowing white under the moonlight. Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel specialist.

# Gwangyang Plum Blossom Village: A Red and White Flower Paradise (March 10-19)

Spring news is abundant in Gwangyang, Jeonnam. The Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival is in full preparation under the slogan "Gwangyang is Spring, Meeting Plum Blossoms Again." The festival opens with a meaningful performance declaring the harmony of the four basic local governments in the Seomjin River area?Gurye, Hadong, Gokseong, and Gwangyang?and the inaugural year of Seomjin River tourism.

On the sunny branches of the plum blossom village along the Seomjin River, plum blossoms are dazzlingly in full bloom. Anyone entering this village filled with white plum blossoms becomes a poet or an artist. The proud and pure aura felt from the fully bloomed plum blossoms is truly the best.

White plum blossoms, red plum blossoms, and blue plum blossoms in full bloom at Maehwa Village (from left in the photo) Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel journalist

Tourists visiting Gwangyang Maehwa Village Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel journalist

Among them, the Cheongmaesil Farm, cultivated over 120,000 pyeong on the slopes of Baegunsan Mountain by Ms. Hong Ssang-ri, a master of plums for over 50 years, boasts beautiful and splendid plum blossoms.

From the entrance marked by signposts, blue plum blossoms, white plum blossoms, and red plum blossoms have overcome the harsh cold snap and are bursting into charming flower buds.

From the yard where about 3,000 jangdok (traditional Korean earthenware pots) are gathered, you can see the Seomjin River at a glance. In the jars, plum soybean paste and plum chili paste are maturing under the early spring sun.

As poet Yi Hwang once sang in his poem, plum blossoms viewed at night are also exquisite. When the sun sets and the sky darkens, the white plum blossoms glow brightly under the moonlight. Then, the Seomjin River's water also seems to be dyed in the white plum blossom light, creating an indescribable enchantment.

The city is putting all efforts into prioritizing safety in preparation for the large influx of tourists who have waited four years for the festival.

A photo of Cornus officinalis in full bloom at Sandong Village, Gurye Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel journalist

# Gurye Sansuyu: Yellow Waves Dancing Under Jirisan (March 11-19)

Early spring brings a bright yellow hue to the monochrome fields and villages of the Sansuyu cluster in Sandong-myeon, Gurye. Before the remaining snow on Manbokdae Peak of Jirisan melts, tiny, bright yellow buds the size of beans begin to burst open, and by mid-March, about 30 villages in Sandong-myeon are covered as if painted with yellow paint, with Sansuyu flowers in full bloom.

The most picturesque place to view Sansuyu in Gurye is around Sangwi Village in Sandong-myeon, where the festival is held. From the village pavilion, Sanyujeong, you can take in the yellow-tinted landscape at a glance. The gently curved terraced rice fields flowing down from the foot of Jirisan, the stream running through the village center, the bamboo groves, and the Sansuyu clusters form a perfect landscape painting.

The Gurye Sansuyu Festival, which has not been held for three consecutive years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will open on the 11th. Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel specialist reporter

Sansuyu is not only found in the bustling Sangwi Village during the festival. Yellow Sansuyu flowers also surround flower walls in Daljeon Village near Surak Waterfall, as well as in Gyecheok and Hyeoncheon Villages under Gyeondusan Mountain.

Hyeoncheon Village has a small reservoir at its entrance, where you can enjoy the charming sight of Sansuyu flowers reflected on the water's surface.

If you visit Gurye, you must not miss Hwaeomsa Temple. Among the spring sights at Hwaeomsa, the black plum blossoms next to Gakhwangjeon Hall are a must-see. The petals are so red that they appear almost black, hence the name black plum. Their true beauty is revealed in early April, when the Sansuyu is in full bloom.

The Gurye Sansuyu Festival, which was not held for three consecutive years due to COVID-19, will open on the 11th.

# Seocheon Maryang Port Camellia: Red Camellias Shining at Sunset (March 18-April 2)

The path leading up to Dongbaekjeong is lined on both sides with camellia flowers, creating a splendid tunnel. Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel specialist.

Camellia Pavilion on the hill behind the Seocheon Thermal Power Plant in Maryang-ri offers a picturesque scene of camellias and sunset. The camellia forest's history dates back 500 years. According to legend, the naval commander of Maryang dreamed that if he propagated flower clusters, laughter would bloom in the village. When he went to the beach, he found flowers floating and planted them, which turned out to be camellias.

Unlike the southern sea coast, the camellia trees here are not tall due to strong sea winds but spread their branches widely. From these handsome garden-like camellia trees, flowers fall off in clusters with a 'thud.' The camellia flowers fallen on the ground display a poignant beauty that can make one dizzy.

The sunset viewed from Camellia Pavilion is also fantastic. When the West Sea in front of the pavilion is dyed golden, the camellia forest is also tinted red.

Seocheon, Chungnam, will hold the 21st Camellia Flower and Jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) Festival around Maryangjin Port in Seomyeon from March 18 to April 2.

# Changwon Jinhae Gunhangje Naval Port Festival: The Best Cherry Blossom Spot, Romance Bridge at Yeojwacheon (March 24-April 3)

The cherry blossom tunnel near Yeojwacheon, the highlight of Jinhae cherry blossoms Photo by Jo Yongjun, travel specialist

South Korea's largest spring flower festival, the Jinhae Gunhangje Naval Port Festival in Changwon, Gyeongnam, will open after four years, starting with a pre-festival event on March 24.

Until last year, due to COVID-19, visitors mostly enjoyed just viewing the flowers, but this year, various cultural and artistic performances themed around "Naval Port, Defense Industry, and Cherry Blossoms" will be held.

Jinhae has many cherry blossom spots, but among them, Gyeonghwa Station, a small station in Gyeonghwa-dong, offers a fantastic scene with cherry blossom petals fluttering over the railway tracks in full bloom. The cherry trees lining the tracks form a tunnel, attracting numerous photographers during the cherry blossom season. The approximately 800-meter railway from Gyeonghwa Station, the filming location of the movie "Boy Goes to Heaven" and the drama "Spring Waltz," to Sehwa Girls' High School offers a more relaxed cherry blossom viewing experience than Yeojwacheon, making it popular among couples and families.

When the cherry blossom festival takes place, the entire Jinhae downtown transforms into a snowy field. Photo by Jo Yong-jun, travel specialist reporter

The top cherry blossom spot in Jinhae is Yeojwacheon. There is a small bridge called "Romance Bridge." It was the place where lead actors Jo Jae-hyun and Kim Ji-soo first met while visiting the Jinhae Gunhangje in the MBC drama "Romance." The drama's popularity led to the bridge being named "Romance Bridge," rapidly becoming a tourist attraction.

Especially, the Naval Academy and the Naval Jinhae Base Command, which are usually not freely accessible, are must-visit places during the festival. Here, visitors can experience the Naval Academy Museum, view the Turtle Ship, try on naval uniforms, and take yacht cruises, enjoying the appearance of Korea's naval base along with the splendid cherry blossoms of over 100-year-old king cherry trees.

The so-called Dream Road, a mountain path above the Anmin Tunnel connecting Jinhae and Changwon, is lined with cherry blossoms in full bloom with every step. Among the cherry blossoms, red plum blossoms and peach blossoms mix, creating a colorful flower palace.

TIP= It is important to time your visit well for spring flower festivals. Blooming periods vary depending on the weather, making it difficult to predict. If you rely solely on the festival dates, you might miss the flowers altogether. Generally, it is wise to visit later, as spring flowers tend to bloom more fully as time passes. Checking local blooming conditions before departure is also recommended. Especially during the festival period, be aware that the Seomjin River area can become a traffic nightmare.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.