Despite Snow Downpour, Spring Comes To Bring News of Cherry Blossoms

The winter flower, the Maehwa Blossom, has already reached its full bloom last week at Baekwoon Mountain near Sumjin River. Sunam Temple’s red Maehwa flower, which is located in Suncheon, seems to have come out this weekend. The Yellow mountain Suyu flower in Sangwee Village of Jiri Mountain has also been in full bloom to welcome their spring Suyu flower festival this weekend.

Spring’s representative flower, the Cherry Blossom, sends its first signal of blooming at this time, when the Maehwa fades and they mountain Sury flower reaches its zenith. It’s Seoguipo, Jeju Island where the Cherry Blossom firstly blossoms. The meteorological station expects the exact date of blossom to be March 27. It is four days late compared with that of the last year, but five days in advance of 2003. Departing Seoguipo, cherry blossoms go ashore at Busan and Tongyung. Blossoms in this area will be around March 26. Jinhae, the town of cherry blossoms, will welcome the blooming around March 27. The average period of blooming of cherry blossoms this year has been advanced two days from that of common years.

-Jinhae’s Naval Port Festival

This year, the festival faces its 42nd anniversary, starting from March 27 to April 5. In the downtown of Jinhae, a special stage will be established to hold diverse festivals such as fire-works.

The Navy, which places its Navy Academy and Naval Operational Command at Jinhae, started this festival in 1952 when it established Korean legendary General Lee Sun-shin’s statue in Jinhae and cherished his memory of intrepidity against Japanese forces in 1594. In every April, the festival has been held periodically.

Together with the cherry blossom Festival, the Navy Academy and its museum will be open to the public. General Lee’s great invention, the Turtle Ship, Naval Operational Command, and warships will be also put on view to the public. The highlights of this festival will be “General Lee’s victory commemorative parade” which is scheduled to be held downtown at 2 p.m. on March 31, and the Air Force’s Black Eagle team’s air show on March 30 and 31.

Giant cherry blossom trees in Jinhae were planted in the Japanese occupation period to beautify the city. Due to the reason of plantation, people, regarding it as the flower of Japan, furiously cut down the trees when independence was declared. But a botanist discovered that the origin of the giant cherry blossom is Jeju Island, and people have exerted much to restore the destroyed trees. Giant cherry blossoms, among 20 relevant flowers in Korea, are regarded as the most gorgeous due to its large amount of flowers and its magnificence.

The most beautiful cherry blossom street in Jinhae is the entrance of Anmin Gogae on the way from Changwon to Jinhae. The trees form a tunnel of flowers.

Travel Information;

Homepage- http://jinhae.go.kr, Tel.- +82-55-548-2114 (Jinhae Cityhall)

○ Jeju Island’s Cherry Blossom Fesitval

Jeju’s “Giant Cherry Blossom” festival – It is the cherry blossom festival held in its place of origin. The festival will be held on March 27 and 28 at Jeju Sports Complex and downtown. On March 27, “April 3, the Peace International Marathon will be held, and a jazz festival will be started from 8 p.m. on that day. Juju City Hall (www.jejusi.go.kr) 064-750-7413

-Seoguipo’s international 17-kilometer walking festival (6th)

In Seoguipo, where cherry blossoms bloom first in the country, people can enjoy warm feelings of the beach and downtown to welcome the spring. It will be held on March 27 and 28. The event is divided into 10km, 20km, and 30km events. On March 27, the 10km and 20km events will be held, and on March 28, whole events will be held.

Starting from Seoguipo World Cup Stadium, the athletes will look all around the magnificent views of Seoguipo. On the first day, the courses head for Jungmun and on the second day, in the downtown direction.

Application to Seoguipo City Hall- www.infojeju.com

Tel. +82-64-735-3255 or 82-2-849-7077.

-Gurye Mountain Suty Flower Festival

During March 19 to 28, the festival will be held around the hot spring resort in Gurye and Sangwe village.

Travel information: Homepage- www.gurye.net

Tel. +82-61-780-2227 (Gurye County Office)

Seung-Ha Cho summer@donga.com