Cherry blossom season is almost here, so we’ve rounded up a list of special spring flower and cherry blossom festivals around the country that are happening just in time. If you’re planning to go flower viewing with family, friends, or your significant other, check out our list of spring flower festivals held in Korea each year.
*schedules will be taken from the official websites of local governments and organizers, and we’re constantly updating and adding to the list.
1. Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival
The Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival, which marks the beginning of spring, is held in mid-March, and returned in 2023 after taking several years off because of the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, the city has expanded its leisure programs beyond just viewing the flowers.
Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival is the true beginning of spring, and you’re surrounded by plum blossoms in the wilderness!
📍 Gwangyang Maehwa Village (map)
2. Jinhae Naval Base Festival
A train slowly rolls along amidst scattered cherry blossoms. It is a spectacular spring sight that can only be seen at Jinhae’s famous cherry blossom festival, officially known as the Jinhae Naval Base Festival. Like many others on this list, it was suspended for several years due to coronavirus, but returned in 2023.
The highlight of the spring, and arguably Korea’s most famous cherry blossom festival, the Jinhae cherry blossom festival takes place in late March, with the opening ceremony held at Jinhae Public Stadium. Don’t miss the iconic sight of the Yeojwacheon cherry blossoms, either.
📍 Jinhae Gyeonghwa Station Park (map), Yeojwacheon Romantic Bridge (map)
3. Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival
During the cherry blossom season in April, the Yunjung-ro cherry blossom path in front of the Yeouido National Assembly becomes crowded with people. The Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival is usually held in the end of March or ealry April, and is announced by officials at the Yeouido Metropolitan Government.
📍 Yeouido Yunjung-ro Cherry Blossom Path (map)
4. Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival
From late March, when the whole of Seokchon Lake turns pink, people flock here one by one to enjoy the springtime. Songpa-gu Office officials announce the dates of Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, and it’s usually at the end of March or in ealry April.
📍 Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival (map)
5. Daegu E-World Cherry Blossom Festival
Daegu E-World Cherry Blossom Festival is said to have the earliest cherry blossoms in the country, as well as the largest night-time cherry blossom viewing in Korea. You can enjoy spring with a rain of flowers falling from the cherry blossom trees, of which there are three times as many than Yunjung-ro, Yeouido.
The Daegu E-World Cherry Blossom Festival runs from mid-March to early April.
📍 200, Duryugong Park-ro, Dalseo-gu, Daegu (map)
6. Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival
In Hwagae, on the border of Jeolla and Gyeongsangbuk-do, there is a cherry blossom avenue that stretches for 10 kilometres. It is also known as the “wedding path” because it is said that if lovers walk hand in hand along it, they will live together for 100 years.
The Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival, held on the Hadong Simni Cherry Blossom Trail near Hwagae Market, is held over a couple of days at the end of March to early April.
📍 Hwagae Green Narae Square (map)
📍 Hadong Simni Cherry Blossom Trail (map)
7. Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival
Gurye is home to the largest cornelian cherry colony in the country. This is where the Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival is held in mid-March, making it one of the earlier spring flower festivals in Korea. In previous years, there have been more than 40 events, including performances and activities, themed around ‘Finding Eternal Love’.
The Sansuyu Flower Festival, a yellow-hued festival that decorates the entire village, is held at the Jirisan Spa Land hot spring site and Gurye Sansuyu village.
📍 Gurye Sandong-myeon Jirisan Spa Land, Sanshuyu Colony Village (map)
8. Icheon Baeksasan Sansuyu Festival
A Sansuyu Flower Festival is also held in nearby Icheon, an hour away from Seoul. It’s not as well-known as the Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival, so there are fewer people, but the scenery is just as beautiful, with fields of yellow flowers.
📍 Find it across Dorip-ri, Gyeongsa-ri, and Songmal-ri, Baeksa-myeon, Icheon
9. Goryeosan Azalea Festival
This azalea festival is held just north of Incheon on Ganghwa Island, which is considered one of the three major colonies of azaleas. The iconic spring festival attracts 430,000 people each year, and visitors can enjoy blooming azaleas along the Goryeosan Mountain hiking trail.
📍 Ganghwa Island, Goryeo Mountain
10. Eungbongsan Forsythia Festival
Eungbongsan Forsythia Festival is held in late March at Eungbongsan Mountain in Seongdong-gu, right here in Seoul. The festival, which is billed as ‘the first village in Seoul where spring comes’, features performances by various artists, photo zones, hands-on programs, and more.
📍 Eungbongsan Mountain, Seongdong-gu