Gwangyang Signals the Start of Spring... Sohakjeong Plum Blossoms Bloom First in the Nation

Symbolic Status as the Nation's Earliest Blooming Site Reaffirmed

The city of Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, announced that the plum blossoms in the Sohakjeong area have signaled the arrival of an early spring by blooming earlier than anywhere else in the country, just ahead of Daehan, the coldest period according to the traditional calendar.

In the Sohakjeong area, plum blossom buds have recently started to bloom, confirming the flowering. This once again highlights Sohakjeong's symbolic status as the nation's first plum blossom site each year.

Plum blossom buds have recently started to bloom in the Sohakjeong area of Gwangyang. Provided by Gwangyang City

With news of the early blooming, interest in the Sohakjeong area continues to grow, and on-site inspections and attention to the blooming status are ongoing.

Taking the current blooming situation into account, Gwangyang City plans to determine the final festival date at the end of January for the 25th Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival, based on scientific data such as accumulated temperature and sunlight, to ensure the most stable blooming period.

During the festival, the city will strive to maximize visitor satisfaction by aligning the event with the peak blooming period of the plum blossoms, and will ensure the stable operation of overall tourism infrastructure, including transportation, safety, and convenience facilities.

A Gwangyang City official stated, "The Sohakjeong plum blossom is a symbolic flower that marks the beginning of the Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival," adding, "We are closely monitoring the current blooming situation and will make thorough preparations so that tourists can enjoy the plum blossoms at their most beautiful, based on scientific indicators and on-site conditions."