“We can’t even ask the forsythia flowers when they will be in full bloom...”
A Seoul Seongdong-gu official lamented this way.
Seongdong-gu’s Eungbongsan is the place where forsythia blooms most beautifully in Seoul. Because of this, the forsythia festival is held every year, offering residents and citizens the refreshing view overlooking the Han River.
Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) originally planned to hold the ‘2023 Eungbongsan Forsythia Festival’ for three days from March 30 to April 1.
However, since the forsythia might wither around that time, Mayor Jung Won-oh urgently moved the festival up by a week to March 23 to 25.
Because of this, the responsible department had to spend the entire day on the 20th in a difficult situation.
This was due to the schedule for the opening performance and other events.
Seongdong-gu’s festival slogan is ‘The Village Where Spring Comes First in Seoul,’ and a variety of programs will be held, including ▲environmental programs ▲experience events ▲family writing and drawing contests ▲celebratory concerts, forsythia photo zones, and food markets.
On the first day of the festival, March 23, the event will begin with a pre-performance by the mixed duo group Neurubyeol and Seoul’s representative b-boy crew Gambler Crew, followed by activities such as writing environmental messages and planting forsythia saplings. About 100 residents, recruited through prior registration, will join forces to protect the beautiful Eungbongsan by planting forsythia saplings together.
On the second day, various attractions such as forsythia photo zones, experience programs, and food markets will be held around Eungbongsan. On the last day of the festival, March 25, pre-performances by the district’s Dream Orchestra and the boys’ and girls’ choir will take place, along with the writing and drawing contests.
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “This is the largest event held in Seongdong-gu since the recovery of daily life,” adding, “As the forsythia festival is being held face-to-face for the first time in four years since 2019, we have prepared a fulfilling three-day festival, so please come with your family and fully enjoy the spring.”
Meanwhile, Yeouido Spring Flower Festival in Yeongdeungpo-gu and Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival in Songpa-gu are also expected to face difficulties if the flowers bloom early due to the weather.
These districts are somewhat relieved as cherry blossoms bloom later than forsythia flowers.
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