[Mun Ho-nam's Snap and Write] 'Spring Will Come Next Year Too'

"Uncle, it seems like spring is already leaving us," said my 6-year-old niece picking up a cherry blossom petal from the ground. In fact, spring is all around us. How about walking along the flower paths blooming near your home this year? Spring will come again next year. Even more brilliantly. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

(Right photo) A banner prohibiting vehicle and pedestrian traffic has been hung at the entrance of Yeouido Cherry Blossom Road. A container command post has been set up to block citizens' access. (Left photo) This contrasts with the scenes of citizens enjoying last spring. It is a spring landscape changed by COVID-19. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Honam] The entire country has already been dyed with flowers. Usually, spring flower spots are crowded with citizens on outings around this time, but this year is different. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, spring flower spots have been closed or restricted as part of social distancing measures.

All entrances and exits to Yeouido Yunjungno and Songpa-gu Seokchon Lake have been blocked. Yeongdeungpo-gu, which organizes the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival, has canceled the festival. This is the first time in 16 years since its inception in 2005. Even outdoors, crowded places pose a risk of COVID-19 infection. During last year's festival, more than 5 million visitors flocked to Yeouido.

Banners prohibiting vehicle and pedestrian access were hung at the entrances to the cherry blossom paths. A container command post was even set up. Police and public officials patrol to prevent citizens from entering the sites. The Hangang Park parking lots, which usually face weekend parking battles, are closed under Seoul City's 'Hangang Park Special Response Measures,' leaving a deserted scene.

The closure of the Seokchon Lake walking trail is also the first since the cherry blossom festival began in the early 2000s. Citizens looked at the closed cherry blossom path from Jamsil Hosugyo Bridge located in the middle of the lake. The spring weather, with white flowers and blue skies, was breathtaking, but citizens' expressions were hidden behind masks. Many were seen capturing the scenery, too precious to miss, through their camera lenses. This is the spring landscape changed by COVID-19.

"Uncle, it seems spring is already leaving us," said a 6-year-old niece picking up fallen cherry blossom petals. In fact, spring is all around us. How about walking along the flower paths blooming near your home this year? Spring will come again next year, even more splendidly.

/Photo & text = Reporter Moon Honam munonam@

(Left photo) Last spring, foreign tourists are taking commemorative photos with cherry blossoms in the background. (Right photo) An official is holding a sign that reads "Keep a 2m distance!" in front of the Yeouido Cherry Blossom Road entrance. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On March 22, when the government urged strict social distancing to overcome COVID-19, the parking lot at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul was filled with vehicles of visitors (left photo). In contrast, on April 4, the parking lot at Hangang Park was deserted after being closed under Seoul City's 'Special Response Measures for Hangang Park.' / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On April 5, 2019, when the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival was held (left photo). Seokchon Lake in Songpa-gu, Seoul, is filled with citizens enjoying a spring outing. In the right photo, an official is patrolling under the cherry blossoms at Seokchon Lake, which was closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

'Feeling like a flower today' Citizens taking commemorative photos at the 2019 Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival (left photo) and a citizen leaning against a fence looking at the flowers on the closed Seokchon Lake walking path (right photo). / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Citizens are taking commemorative photos on Jamsil Hosugyo Bridge, located at the midpoint of Seokchon Lake, with the closed cherry blossom path in the background. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@