Where to Find Korea’s Spring Flowers (2025)

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Though known as a pop culture capital and a historically rich destination, Korea isn’t all that well-known for its spring blooms, at least compared to its neighbours like the rising spring dragon of China or the sakura heavyweight of Japan.

But Korea actually has an impressive variety of spring season blooms throughout its interior provinces, urban gardens and holiday islands.

Let’s check out some of Korea’s spring blooms in 2025 and where to find them!

Forsythia / Korean Goldenbell

Korean Name: gaenari (개나리)
When: Late March
Where: Eungbongsan Mountain, Seoul

Known as the Korean capital Seoul’s official flower, the forsythia or Korean goldenbell is flower of four petals that frequently erupts into bright-golden blooms that cover entire trees and mountains.

The prime forsythia destination is located on Mount Eungbongsan, a former hunting ground for Korean royalty that’s located right next to the urban heart of Seoul. Here, the Eungbongsan Forsythia Festival is held annually around late March.

Related: The 5 Liveliest Spring Festivals Around the World

Plum Blossoms

Korean Name: maehwa (매화)
When: Mid-Late March
Where: Gwangyang Maehwa Village (Jeonnam), Tongdosa Temple (South Gyeongsang), Baegyangsa Temple (Jeonnam)

One of the earliest flowers to bloom during the spring season, the plum blossom has been a traditional symbol that heralds the arrival of spring in South Korea.

Although areas like the Gwangyang Maehwa Village have entire streets filled with a diverse range of white, red and pink plum blooms in huge floral festivals, many of the nation’s temples also host famous individual plum trees that have long attracted floral pilgrims, particularly around Jeonnam Province.

Related: Check out where to find plum blossoms and more in our guide to the 9 Must-See Spring Flowers in China.

Cherry Blossoms

Korean Name: beotkkot (벚꽃)
When: Late Mar – Early Apr
Where: Jinhae Yeojwacheon Stream (Gyeongsangnam), Bomun Complex (Gyeongju), Gyeongpoho Lake (Gangwon)

Prized both for its lumber and its gorgeous, clustered blooms, South Korea’s cherry blossoms mainly feature two particularly varieties; the first is the homegrown blossom known locally as Korean King cherry, while the other is the Yoshino cherry – one of the last legacies of Japan’s brutal colonial occupation.

But regardless of the cruelty and tragedy inflicted by humanity, Korea’s cherry blossoms still manage to draw admirers from both near and far during huge spring festivals.

Related: Eight Spectacular Sakura Spots NOT in Japan

Azaleas

Korean Name: jindallae (진달래)
When: Late March
Where: Royal Azalea Hill (Gyeonggi), Yeosu Yeongchwisan Mountain (Jeollanam), Mt. Hwangmae-san (Gyeongsangnam)

Entire slopes of wild and cultivated azaleas are frequently found amongst the hilly or mountainous terrain of South Korea, basically guaranteeing grand bird’s-eye-views to go along with your pink azalea blooms.

Besides being eye candy during floral festivals, these shade-loving flowers are also used in Korean cuisine to impart some floral flavouring, particularly in the traditional liquor dugyeonju and even a “flower” pancake called hwajeon.

Rapeseed Flowers

Korean Name: yuchae (유채)
When: Late March – Early April
Where: Seongsan Canola Flower Field (Jeju Island)

Also known as the canola flower, the rapeseed flower has long been cultivated by Jeju Island locals and prized for its hardy nature, which is well suited to the bitter cold and poor soil of Jeju Island.

On the island, its brilliant golden sheen can be seen lining various fields, parks and coastal roads during flower festivals. Once cultivated mainly for its seed oil, it has increasingly become a festive spring season draw for many tourists.

Daffodils

Korean Name: suseonhwa (수선화)
When: Late March – April
Where: House of Yu Gibang (Chungcheongnam), Hwadam Botanical Garden (Gyeonggi), Gonggoji (Gyeongnam)

Like a scene right out of a Romantic painting, the daffodil’s individual green stalks are crowned by proud, star-shaped flowers that come in pristine white or glowing gold.

In South Korea, these flowers can only be found cultivated next to gardens attached to colonial-era mansions or botanical gardens.

Still looking for spring flowers? Then check out our guides to Japan’s Spring Flowers by Region or our 9 Must-See Spring Flowers in China. For Korea stans looking for some good deals, make sure to check out our Five Best Shopping Spots in Seoul!

Links

Visit Korea – A Guide to Spring Blossom Destinations
https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=221583

The Chosun Daily – Plum blossoms push through the cold, ushering in spring across South Korea
https://www.chosun.com/english/video-en/2025/03/12/H3XQPLEHGVEQTFBA64VKSBFPNQ/

The Korea Herald – [Visual History of Korea] King cherry trees of Korea replicated with cloning science
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/2835472

Korea.net – Myeoncheon Dugyeonju brings taste, fragrance of azaleas
https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Business/view?articleId=132170

Korea.net – Korean recipes: rice cake & punch with azaleas
https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=134744

Visit Jeju – Jeju Canola Flower Festival
https://www.visitjeju.net/en/detail/view?contentsid=CNTS_000000000021934