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Cherry blossoms bloom across southern parts of Korea ahead of spring festivals

Published: 25 Mar. 2026, 17:29

A brown-eared bulbul feeds on cherry blossom nectar, signaling the arrival of spring, at Busan Baehwa School for the Deaf in Suyeong District, Busan, on March 10. [NEWS1]

A wave of pink is sweeping across the southern parts of Korea as cherry blossoms burst into bloom, ushering in a season of festivals expected to draw throngs of springtime visitors.

The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, the country’s largest cherry blossom festival, will kick off in Changwon, South Gyeongsang, on Friday and run through April 5.

A person with an umbrella walks past cherry blossoms in full bloom in a residential neighborhood in Yeonje District, Busan, on March 18 as spring rain falls. [YONHAP]

Now in its 64th edition, the festival began in 1952 as a memorial ceremony honoring Admiral Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598) and later expanded into a cherry blossom festival in 1963.

Jinhae District in Changwon is home to around 360,000 cherry trees. Among them are three designated trees along Yeojwa Stream that the local weather office uses to track when the cherry blossoms begin to bloom. The blossoms are considered to have officially opened when at least three flowers appear on one of their branches and to be in full bloom when more than 80 percent of the flowers on a tree have blossomed. This year’s first bloom was confirmed on Tuesday.

Changwon has long struggled to set festival dates due to unpredictable bloom timing caused by cold snaps and rain. In recent years, flowering periods have varied significantly. This year, however, blossoms opened just three days before the festival, raising expectations for a peak viewing experience.

A Japanese white-eye feeds on cherry blossoms in bloom at Busan Baehwa School for the Deaf in Suyeong District, Busan, on March 9. [YONHAP]

Popular cherry blossom spots include Gyeonghwa Station, Yeojwa Stream and the nearby inland fisheries research institute. Visitors can walk along a former railway at Gyeonghwa Station, which is lined with fully bloomed trees, or stroll through a 1.5-kilometer (0.9-mile) cherry blossom tunnel at Yeojwa Stream. The research institute’s grounds are also known for their scenic charm. All locations are illuminated at night, making them popular destinations during the evening as well.

The Jinhae Gunhangje Festival opens with military band performances. A military band and honor guard festival will take place at Jinhae Public Stadium on opening day and feature performances by bands from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, U.S. Eighth Army and overseas units.

A bee collects nectar from cherry blossoms in full bloom at a small park in front of an apartment complex in Buk District, Busan, on March 23. [YONHAP]

On April 1, the Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team will perform over the Korea Naval Academy, followed by a fireworks show over the sea near Jinhae Pavilion that evening. From April 3 to 5, the Cherry Blossom Music Festival will host performances by artists including Kim Jae-joong, Roo’ra, Bolbbalgan4 and Nell.

In Busan, earlier cherry blossom blooms have prompted adjustments to festival schedules. Sasang District will host the Nakdonggang Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival from Friday to April 12 at Samnak Ecological Park, extending both the schedule and duration from its original April plan. The festival will consist of concerts, busking performances, street shows, nighttime programs and picnic zones.

Cherry blossoms in full bloom draw the attention of passersby at a small park in front of an apartment complex in Buk District, Busan, on March 23. [YONHAP]

Visitors enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom at Yeojwa Stream in Jinhae District, Changwon, South Gyeongsang, on April 3, 2025. [YONHAP]

The southeastern port city’s Gangseo District will host the Nakdong River 30-ri Cherry Blossom Festival (translated) from April 3 to 5 along a 12-kilometer stretch from Daejeo Floodgate to Myeongji Market, on which thousands of cherry trees form a tunnel. Shuttle buses will operate throughout the event.

Cherry blossoms have already begun to bloom at major spots across Busan, including Oncheon Stream citizens park, Dalmaji Hill and the Mount Hwangnyeong cherry blossom road. Other popular viewing areas include Jinsa-ro and Namcheon-dong.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY WE SUNG-WOOK [[email protected]]