[462 Trip] Cherry Blossoms in Korea

Welcome to the first episode of the Dongguk Post's Trip Edition, Cherry Blossoms in Korea. As spring arrives, these beautiful pink flowers paint the country in a stunning display of nature's artistry. In this article, we will delve into a Korean tale behind cherry blossoms, and explore the best places to witness these blossoms both on and off campus. Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Korean cherry blossoms!

A Korean tale of the cherry blossoms

Did you know that cherry blossoms, which decorate spring, are native to Korea? Cherry blossom trees are a type of deciduous broad-leaved tree in the Rosaceae family. The king cherry tree, known as the "queen of cherry blossoms, originated in Korea, as revealed by the DNA of Korean and Japanese cherry trees. Unfortunately, many of the legends and stories about cherry blossoms are Japanese, and Korean stories are rarely found, so the Dongguk Post would like to introduce the cherry blossom legends that have been passed down on Jeju Island.

Once upon a time, a devoted young man was living at the foot of Hallasan Mountain in Jeju Island. He was a kindhearted young man who cared for his mother, who was left alone after the death of his father. Although his life was difficult because he had to chop wood every day, he was the pride of the villagers because of his sincerity and good heart. He was happy to live as long as he honored his widowed mother.

As winter gave way to spring, the young man's beloved mother fell ill. Despite his efforts, her condition worsened, and his sorrow deepened.

One day, a monk visited and told him of a deer on Hallasan Mountain whose horns could cure his mother. He was instructed to cut off the horns and make a decoction, with one warning: no matter what, he must not look back or answer anyone while fleeing with the horns.

At dawn on the second day, following the monk's guidance, the young man ascended Hallasan. In the midday sun, he spotted a herd of deer near Baekrokdam.

Among them, he noticed one with unusually large antlers. Determined to heal his mother, he approached and wrestled with the deer until its antlers snapped against a tree. Grabbing them, he descended the mountain. Suddenly, a woman's voice called out to him, but recalling the monk's warning, he ran without looking back. Returning home, he prepared the decoction and administered it to his mother, who miraculously recovered the next day.

The young man's worries eased, but the woman's voice lingered in his mind. He returned to Baekrokdam and found a fairy-like woman among the deer. She reassured him, promising relief for her father's anger upon witnessing his good deed. Impressed by her kindness, he proposed, and they married with a bowl of purified water. However, one day he woke to find himself alone, and despite searching, she was nowhere to be found. Distraught, he could not bring himself to tell his mother. The following spring, when he went up to Hallasan Mountain to cut wood, he saw a flower blooming where the woman's house once stood. It was a king cherry blossom.

The young man was intoxicated by the fragrance of the flowers and fell asleep. In his dream, his wife appeared to him and said, "Sir, I was the only child of the mountain spirits of Hallasan, and I met you through the antlers of a deer, fell in love with your courage, and became your wife. But I caused my father's anger by marrying a human, which is why I have now become a tree beside you." The young man was happy to see her but he was saddened to hear what had happened.

The young man awoke from his dream with a start and saw a dazzlingly beautiful king cherry blossom in bloom. The fragrant smell of the blossoms made the young man stay by the tree for days, but the woman never reappeared, and just as she disappeared, so did the blossoms. That was the end, and the cherry blossoms are said to represent purity and refinement. 

Cherry Blossoms on Campus

Do you know about various cherry blossom spots at Dongguk University? You must have seen many cherry blossoms blooming on campus and on the way to school. There are beautiful scenes where cherry blossoms gather and bloom all over the campus, and the Dongguk Post visits these places to share various stories related to cherry blossoms. The most famous cherry blossom spot on campus is the Hyehwagwan Cloud Bridge. The Cloud Bridge connects Hyehwagwan to the Manhae Hall, and if you face the Manhae Hall from the left, you will notice large cherry blossom trees. Behind the cherry blossom tree, you can see a wide-open sky except for the slightly visible Jeonggakwon roof, making it possible to take great photos with the spring sky as the background.

Another famous spot is behind Myeongjin Hall. About eight large cherry blossom trees are standing along the side street next to Myeongjin Hall. This place is where the numerous flower petals hanging from the big trees look even more magnificent. There are benches under the trees, and if you take photos under the trees, you can get a picture of the sky filled with cherry blossoms. The Dongguk Post asked Varatharajan, a foreign student taking photos, about his thoughts on cherry blossoms. Varatharajan said, “In our country, cherry blossoms were not famous, so it was very new to me. When I arrived here, the trees did not have any leaves or flowers. When I see these flowers, I am so excited to see them because they are so beautiful, and I am lucky that all of the people are enjoying the cherry blossoms these days.” He was enjoying spring in Korea.

The next place is a Dongguk Univ. station. The uphill path from exit six of the station to the university is usually seen as a trial due to its steepness, but in spring, it is different because of the cherry blossoms blooming along the uphill path. The Dongguk Post conducted interviews with freshmen taking photos at uphill past. Yeo Chae-eun (Department of Film and Digital 24) said that cherry blossoms seem to symbolize midterm exams. Park Yer-im (Department of Film and Digital 24) said that the meaning of cherry blossoms is the memory as she remembered taking pictures with her friends against the backdrop of cherry blossoms during her school days. When asked about whether they feel any changes in their studies or daily lives when cherry blossoms bloom, they said they feel happy, and as cherry blossoms bloom about a month after entering school, they feel like they have truly become university students. Similar sentiments were heard from another freshman interviewed regarding cherry blossoms in spring. Gong Ji-young (Department of Media Communication 24) said, “Cherry blossoms are a sign that spring has come, and at this time, my mind is on the upcoming midterms.” Various people on campus felt that spring had come. What do cherry blossoms mean to you? Were they a sign of spring, a memory, or a reminder of midterm exams?

Cherry Blossoms outside of Dongguk University

There are many cherry blossom attractions outside our school. “Seokchon Lake,” located in Songpa-gu, is a representative Cherry Blossom Festival. Walking along the cherry blossom paths by the lake, the Cherry Blossom Festival has been the most visited place in the past two years. This year, Seokchon Lake, famous for its pretty photo spot with its cherry trees in full bloom surrounding the 2.6km long lake, has been crowded with people.

The Cherry Blossom Festival at Seokchon Lake takes place with a different concept every year. The highlight of this year’s Cherry Blossom Festival was “Spring Night Cherry Blossom.” White lights installed throughout Seokchon Lake created a fantastic cherry blossom night view. The combination of more than 1,000 cherry trees surrounding the lake and white light provided a unique view. Additionally, Songpa-gu installed glass railings and landscape lighting on the previously desolate lake bridge, transforming it into an ancestor of the viewing shelter. The glass railing not only allows visitors to enjoy the scenery of the lake without restrictions on visibility, but also introduces landscape lighting to create a beautiful night view. In addition, a colorful “Cherry Blossom Gate” installed at the entrance of Seokchon Lake and a photo zone with Songpa-gu character “Haha Hoho” were operated throughout the lake. In addition, during the five- day Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, various performances such as K-pop and classical music were held to enjoy together, making this year’s cherry blossom festival a success.

In addition to Seokchon Lake, Lotte World Tower is loved as the best place for spring picnics in harmony with beautiful cherry blossoms. At Lotte World Tower’s outdoor lawn plaza, it collaborated with the “Choigosim” characters loved by the MZ generation to deliver positive energy and good luck to people in the new spring. A large photo zone measuring about 2.5 meters’ high was installed, making the plaza full of positive energy filled with people. The popularity of photo zones did not cool down until late at night.

The cherry blossoms, which were in full bloom more than ever before, lit up Seokchon Lake. You could enjoy the atmosphere of spring while enjoying the cherry blossoms along the lake even at night. In addition to Seokchon Lake, there are many pretty cherry blossom spots such as Yeouido Park and Namsan Mountain. The Dongguk Post recommends taking a walk with your friends next spring to enjoy the cherry blossoms and take pretty pictures.