May, the 'Queen of Seasons'... Festival Keyword 'Red'

Seoul Mapo-gu Hongdae Red Road Creation Festival... Jungnang-gu Seoul Rose Festival Draws Crowds, Expected to Revitalize Local Economy

May is the queen of seasons, the season of roses.

Seoul’s Mapo-gu and Jungnang-gu districts are attracting attention by hosting large-scale festivals themed around ‘Red’ and ‘Rose’ to welcome May.

In particular, these autonomous districts are carrying out extensive projects to enhance their local brand value and revitalize local commercial districts by holding festivals that gather people.

Successful Hosting of Mapo-gu Red Road Festival

Mapo-gu (District Mayor Park Gang-su) created the ‘Red Road (RED ROAD)’ to prevent safety accidents caused by crowd congestion while also enhancing its brand value as a tourist city, and held the ‘Red Road Festival’ on the 13th and 14th.

The Red Road is a themed street in the Hongdae cultural arts tourism special zone, stretching about 2 km from the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail, the most visited tourist spot in Mapo-gu, to Hongdae and Dangin-ri Power Plant.

On the first day of the festival, the foreigner singing contest held at the Red Road Plaza kicked off the event, followed by the Red Road proclamation ceremony. The celebration performances featured singer Lee Chan-won, Kloen, and comedian Ji Sang-yeol, drawing great responses.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (right) and Mapo District Mayor Park Kang-soo are touring the Red Road Festival site.

Especially, Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, toured the Red Road with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, taking time to explain the main contents of the project and future plans to improve small plazas and traveler convenience facilities.

The final performance on the second day, ‘Mapo Running Again, Hongdae Street Festival Red Road Festival,’ was organized by the Hongdae Cultural Street Cooperative. It added significance by supporting local cultural artists’ activities and increasing residents’ opportunities to enjoy culture in connection with Mapo-gu’s ‘Local Culture and Arts Festival Support Project.’

Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “The Red Road is a unique street in Mapo where culture, tourism, safety, and nature harmonize, becoming a new landmark in Seoul and an attractive tourist destination for foreigners.”

Jungnang-gu ‘2023 Seoul Rose Festival’ Opens

Jungnang-gu (District Mayor Ryu Gyeong-gi) opened the ‘2023 Seoul Rose Festival’ on the 13th. The festival will run until the 28th.

This year’s Seoul Rose Festival theme is ‘Bloom Again Jungnang.’ It carries the meaning of hoping many visitors enjoy the full bloom of spring at Jungnang-gu’s Seoul Rose Festival, resumed after four years since the end of COVID-19.

As Korea’s representative rose festival, Jungnang Rose Park (from Mukdonggyo to Jangpyeonggyo area) welcomes visitors with about 300,000 rose bushes of over 200 varieties. Roses of various breeds from countries such as France, Germany, and Denmark, including Angela, Pink Perfume, Grande Classe, and Gold Facade, convey the vitality of spring.

Visitors can enjoy 10 million roses throughout the festival grounds, including the 5.45 km rose tunnel along the Jungnangcheon embankment, the largest in Korea, rose gardens in Surimdae Park, and five other locations. Additionally, the observation deck and photo zones overlooking Jungnangcheon, along with nighttime LED lighting, offer visitors a unique charm.

Ryu Gyeong-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “The blooming 10 million roses will beautifully decorate Jungnang-gu throughout May. I hope everyone participates in the Seoul Rose Festival returning after four years to fully enjoy the queen of flowers, the rose, and create joyful memories.”