Oh Seungrok, Mayor of Nowon District, Breathes a Sigh of Relief...
The Story Behind the Azalea Festival That Drew 230,000 Visitors Last Year
Sudden Cold Snap Before the Festival...
Emergency Measures Launched to Prevent Cold Damage to Azaleas
Thanks to Tireless Efforts by the Mayor and Staff, the Azaleas Bloomed on Time
Spring flower festivals are in full swing across Seoul’s autonomous districts. Every year in early April, cherry blossoms bloom in various locations, and as the cherry blossoms fade, azaleas, roses, and hydrangeas take turns enticing visitors.
The dedicated efforts of Nowon District, which have contributed to the successful hosting of the '2025 Bulamsan Azalea Festival,' are once again being highlighted.
In 2020, the district planted 100,000 azalea bushes in Bulamsan Healing Town and created 'Azalea Hill,' complete with walking trails, a stage, and rest areas. Since 2022, the district has been holding the 'Bulamsan Azalea Festival' during the peak blooming period, offering residents the best spring outing experience. Last year, which marked the third festival, more than 230,000 people visited, with weekday visitors alone averaging over 10,000 per day?a testament to the festival’s popularity. Building on last year’s great success, this year’s festival promises to be even richer, with content combining culture, leisure, and reading, as well as the introduction of a fairy-tale-themed concept. To ensure the best azaleas?the heart of the festival?expert consultations were held four times starting in January.
However, a sense of crisis emerged around March for the azalea festival, which has now become a signature local event. From March, there were concerns about azaleas suffering from cold damage due to late frosts and abnormal low temperatures, prompting continuous monitoring and the installation of thermometers and digital temperature recorders. This was necessary because, due to the topography of Azalea Hill, on-site temperatures tend to be more than 3 degrees Celsius lower than the official weather forecast from the Korea Meteorological Administration.
Seungrok Oh, mayor of Nowon District, is checking the azalea conditions ahead of the Bulamsan Azalea Festival.
When temperatures failed to return to normal by early April, Seungrok Oh, mayor of Nowon District?who never overlooks even the smallest inconvenience at the site?was quick to take notice. On April 3 and 4, the Green City Division began replacing some of the dead azalea trees, and on the 11th, a countermeasure meeting on cold damage was held, presided over by the mayor. This was because more than three to four rounds of hail and snow accompanied by strong winds were forecast for the weekend. It was one of the coldest Aprils on record since meteorological observations began.
The district responded immediately. Staff gave up their holidays to install the first layer of insulation (plastic sheeting) and the second layer (nonwoven fabric), successfully protecting all the azaleas from the upper to the lower sections of Azalea Hill by Monday.
On April 15, just three days before the festival’s opening, the on-site temperature at Bulamsan Azalea Hill?where snow and frost had fallen?recorded minus 3 degrees Celsius at 6:45 a.m. Under such abnormal weather, it would have been natural for the azalea buds to be damaged by the cold and fail to bloom. However, thanks to the district’s swift response and dedication, most of the azaleas managed to bloom safely. The day after the snow and frost ended, the district promptly removed the insulation and began watering the plants, continuing to protect the azaleas?the stars of the festival.
The azalea festival, which opened safely on April 18, continues to attract large crowds. Although the flowers were not fully open at the beginning of the festival, by April 27, when this reporter visited the site, over 80% of the area was in bloom, displaying a beauty comparable to last year’s.
Mayor Oh, worried that residents might be disappointed if the azaleas they had waited a year for failed to bloom, visited the site repeatedly and kept residents updated on the blooming status via his personal social media and text messages. Did his sincerity and dedication reach the residents? Everyone seemed to be enjoying the full spring atmosphere and was satisfied with their outing. The shade canopies, outdoor library, and cultural performances set up throughout the area, together with butterflies fluttering among the blooming azaleas, evoked memories of last year’s splendid festival. If visitors to Bulamsan remember the dedication and hard work of the mayor and district staff who gave up their holidays, their memories of the festival will shine even brighter.
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