If You Want to See Spring First, Visit Gurye 'Sansuyu Village'

"Searching for Eternal Love" 24th Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival
Sansuyu Flower Feast Fills Gurye Sandong Village... 'Harbinger' Announcing Early Spring
Delight with Unique Local Delicacies like Chicken Sashimi and Jaecheop Soup

The bright yellow flower buds contrasting with the red berries, and the custom of giving freshly bloomed Sansuyu flowers and red berries that endured the cold winter to loved ones, have long been traditions in Gurye, Jeollanam-do. The Sansuyu flowers of Gurye, symbolizing 'eternal love,' have established themselves as the heralds of spring, blooming earlier than cherry blossoms or plum blossoms nationwide. When the yellow Sansuyu flowers fill the Sandong area of Gurye, one truly feels that 'spring has arrived.' Perhaps excited by the resumption of the festival after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19, and with the ongoing high temperatures, Gurye is currently witnessing the early blooming of Sansuyu flowers, spreading the lively energy of spring everywhere.

Sansuyu blooms bright yellow flowers earlier than any other tree on an early spring day before its leaves appear. Small flowers gather in groups of 20 to 30, forming tiny umbrella shapes that cover the branches so densely that they are barely visible.
[Photo by Gurye County Office]

'Eternal Love' Continuing for a Thousand Years, Heralds That Announce Spring First

The history of Gurye Sansuyu dates back over thirteen centuries. According to legend, a maiden from Shandong Province, China, brought Sansuyu with her when she married into Gurye a thousand years ago, planting it in her new home to remember her hometown. Records of Sansuyu cultivation and tribute in Gurye are also found in Joseon Dynasty documents such as the Annals of King Sejong, Sanlim Gyeongje, Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam, and Seungjeongwon Ilgi, supporting its long-standing history.

The legendary tree survived for a thousand years and became a sacred tree, with village rituals held there to pray for peace and safety of the land. The name Sandong-myeon is said to have originated from this story. In Gyecheok Village, Sandong-myeon, the legendary sacred tree known as the 'Grandmother Tree' stands tall. This tree, measuring 16 meters in height and 4.8 meters in root circumference, is the largest and oldest tree, blooming first to announce the changing seasons. Across from it, in Daljeon Village, the 'Grandfather Tree,' 300 years old and 6 meters tall, asserts its presence, offering an interesting comparison.

The 24th Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival, themed "In Search of Eternal Love," is being held until the 19th at the Jirisan Hot Spring Tourist Area and the Sansuyu Cluster Village in Sandong-myeon, Gurye.
[Photo by Gurye County Office]

The 24th Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival, opened on the 11th, is held under the theme 'In Search of Eternal Love' until the 19th at the Jirisan Hot Springs tourist area and Sansuyu cluster villages in Sandong-myeon, Gurye. To make up for the three-year hiatus, this year's festival offers 40 diverse programs including walking tours, magic and bubble shows for children, and a Sansuyu fruit peeling contest where participants separate seeds from the pulp, adding joy to the spring outing.

Following Gyecheok and Daljeon, Hyeoncheon Village beyond National Route 19 gained fame as the filming location for the MBN variety show Naturally. Photographers and travelers captivated by the yellow Sansuyu flowers reflected in the village reservoir formed long lines. Recently, Bangok Village's cluster has emerged as a new attraction. Looking up at Manbokdae, 'the place blessed with many fortunes' of Jirisan, through the Seosi Stream and Sansuyu trees, visitors can enjoy a natural gradient painted by nature. Each Sansuyu village, boasting unique charms, has become a representative theme encompassing Sandong’s villages: Sangwi, Hawi, Wolgye, Daeum, Bangok, Pyeongchon, Wonjwa, Sanggwan, Jungdong, Sapo, Hyeoncheon, and Wondong.

Gurye Sandong Sansuyu, also called the 'University Tree' because it helped local children attend college through Sansuyu farming, has long been a livelihood source and tourist attraction for residents. In 2014, the government designated Sandong Sansuyu farming as a 'National Important Agricultural Heritage,' recognizing its preservation value. Kim Soon-ho, the mayor of Gurye County, said, "Sansuyu is a gift from Jirisan and a legacy passed down from our ancestors. Starting with the Sansuyu flowers, heralds of spring, we hope visitors enjoy the spring atmosphere walking along Gurye’s flower paths throughout the season, including Hwaeomsa’s red plum blossoms, the 300-ri cherry blossoms of Gurye, and the Gat flowers of the Seomjin River."

At Dangol Restaurant in Jwasari, Sandong-myeon, Gurye-gun, you can try chicken sashimi. Served before the grilled chicken, the chicken sashimi is a dish made with freshly slaughtered chicken meat, gizzard, and skin seasoned with garlic, known for its unique texture.
[Photo by Kim Heeyoon]

From Unique Chicken Sashimi to 30 Years of Expertise in Jaecheop Soup... Gurye’s ‘Taste and Style’ Flourish at the Table

Gurye’s unique local foods, alongside the Sansuyu flowers, also draw visitors. Near the Sansuyu Festival venue in Jwasari, 'Dangol Restaurant' offers chicken sashimi. Served before the grilled chicken, the sashimi consists of freshly slaughtered chicken meat, gizzard, and skin seasoned with garlic, providing a chewy yet crunchy texture that offers a new raw taste between yukhoe (Korean beef tartare) and sashimi. The main dish, grilled mountain chicken, is attractive for its mild flavor and aroma. The course is completed with chicken porridge made by boiling chicken bones left after filleting for sashimi and grilling. The 'grilled mountain chicken' course, prepared from free-range chickens freshly slaughtered, is rich in protein and low in fat, making it a healthy meal. It pairs well with the pink-hued Sansuyu Makgeolli.

The Seomjin River, a famous spot in Gurye along with the Sansuyu villages, offers various ingredients, among which jaecheop (small freshwater clams) stands out for its exquisite taste. 'Seomjin River Jaecheop Noodles' is a hidden local gem with 30 years of experience, starting from a food truck to its current establishment. The dish features medium noodles boiled in jaecheop soup topped with finely chopped chives, characterized by a clean yet deeply flavorful broth that first touches the throat. The jaecheop soup set meal includes small noodles, savory jaecheop vinegar salad, rice mixed with the salad, and fifteen side dishes on one tray, providing a hearty meal. A kiosk at the restaurant entrance hints at the busy flow of customers.

The Gurye Five-Day Market held on days ending in 3 and 8.
[Photo by Gurye County Office]

The Gurye Five-Day Market, where the warm-hearted countryside spirit and local foods come together, is also a must-visit. Held on days ending with 3 and 8, the market is filled with seasonal wild vegetables freshly gathered from the mountains and fresh seafood brought from nearby Yeosu, captivating visitors throughout the marketplace. From twisted doughnuts (kkwabaegi) that Yoo Jae-suk, visiting as his alter ego Yusansul, took a bite of, to 40-year-old tradition Song Sun-rye grandmother’s puffed rice snacks, small treats satisfy the palate. Long-standing stalls like the beef tendon soup restaurant and red bean porridge shop, which uses local red beans for a mild flavor, attract food lovers with their sweet aromas.

‘Instagrammable’ cafes reflect the diversity of recent travelers to Gurye. 'Banyaweon Platanus,' a dessert cafe located below Hwaeomsa Temple, features a garden centered around a towering plane tree in a wide open field, with a small pond, pine trees, and red plum blossoms. It has become an essential stop for Gurye travelers. Visitors enjoy a cup of coffee against the vast garden backdrop, capturing moments with shutter clicks throughout. Next to the garden-surrounded cafe, an art gallery exhibits prints by various artists including Joan Mir?, Andy Warhol, and Takashi Murakami. 'Sanaraemil,' a cafe near the five-day market run by a young patissier, impresses with cakes and cookies made from native Gurye wheat and is worth a visit.