Opening Up about the Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival

If you think you’ve seen these flowers – think again. When you really lean in and have a proper sticky beak at the floral features, you’ll see them in a whole new light. If flowers and all things petals and blooms bring you joy – this flower fest is the place for you. 

Photo Credit: Korea Tourism

These tranquil blossoms bring a sense of serene and are bound to calm your farm! Surrounded by a vivid rainbow of colours, with shades and hues competing for your eye, this festival is a unique sensory experience. But it’s not just their colour – their intricate patterns and formations are so individual and interesting, you’ll definitely stop to smell the lotuses. 

Photo Credit: Korea Tourism

Just when you thought all the beautiful flower festivals in Korea were in spring, there’s another flower season in town! Held in July, when the lotus is in prime petal, head to Buyeo Seodong Park in Gungnamji for this celebration of pretty petals. This bloom-fest takes place in Buyeo County, South Chungcheong Province; a little county, two hours south of Seoul. It’s a spot known for its lush lotus fields; here, the grounds are dotted with white and red lotus flowers, pond lilies and lovely lakes. Celebrating beautiful lotus blooms, the heart of this festival is set on preserving wildflowers.

Photo Credit: Korea Tourism

There are loads of different events every day; from lotus-themed performances, craft and competitions to kayaking and tea ceremonies. Top billing goes to the performance which tells the love story of Prince Seodong and Princess Seonhwa. The kids will dig this Seoul lantern festival too; wowing over Seodong Park lit by LED illuminations and lanterns. Opening and closing ceremonies, light shows, secret gardens and a night parade should also be on your itinerary.

At the lotus festival, apart from wandering among thousands of flowers, you can also try your hand at some bloom-based craft. Make paper lotus flowers, lotus flower soap and lotus flower bracelets. You can also make art from Gungnamji Pond wood, string a lotus seed necklace or create a lotus leaf-shaped candlestick. There’s a stack of ways to participate while you celebrate the lotus flower.  

Photo Credit: Kojects

If you’re a flower fan, and especially a lotus lover, this lotus lantern festival is a must and makes a great day trip from Seoul! From Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, take an intercity bus to Buyeo Intercity Bus Terminal. Then hop in a taxi for a quick 1.5km trip Gungnamji.

Doting on these delicate flowers is one thing, but have you ever sipped on lotus flower tea? To keep the festival theme going, indulge in an array of local dishes, as well as lotus treats to eat and drink. While you enjoy your feast, take a moment to reflect on the significance of these lovely blooms. In Korean culture, this flower is associated with birth, creation and reproduction – it’s no wonder this bloom is beloved.

Photo Credit: TPO If you need a break from fields of flowers, there are some other great tourist destinations to dash over to. Nearby, you’ll find numerous cultural and historic sites dating back to 18 BC-660 AD: the Baekje Wangneungwon (Royal Mausoleum), Nakhwaam, and the Baekje (Historical Museum). Balance out your lotus appreciation by discovering some South Korean culture.

Good internet access can make or break your trip to this flowerfest. Get high-speed 4G LTE internet on the go with your South Korea 4G Prepaid SIM Card. With this canny card, you get voice and text message service, easy top up and the opportunity to extend more SIM validity on your mobile device. Incoming voice calls and text messages are free, so you can tell your friends about your lotus love. Pick up this excellent travel accessory at any major airport in South Korea.

When the lotus festival is done, you may want to continue your adventures in South Korea. For unlimited train rides in South Korea on almost all KORAIL-operated trains, the Korea Rail Pass (2, 3, 4, or 5 Days) is on-track for you! Choose the perfect pass for your visit: 3/5 consecutive days, 2/4 days within a 10-day period, and Saver Passes for groups of 2-5 travelling together. Redeem your voucher at any metro station for easy, economical travel. 600 stations and 80 different routes are at your beck and call, and you get instant tickets.

After micro-focusing on flowers, you might want to shift your perspective to take in the bigger picture. Once back in Seoul, head to the N Seoul Tower at the peak of the hill within the Namsan Park green space. The N Seoul Tower Ticket in Seoul gets you 500 meters above the city where the beauty of this metropolis unfolds in front of you. Unrivaled views let you look out over the city to the hills beyond, then pop into Hello Kitty's house for a memento with meow!

Korea is the king of KPop, K-Drama, knockout cuisine and… festivals! That’s right, this country loves to celebrate, whether it be cultural or just pure fun. There’s always a festival on the calendar, so whenever you visit, you can immerse in local life. Discover Korea Through its Festivals; there’s sure to be something up your alley. 

Build a snowman, tunnel and slide at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival and get your dirty dance on at the Boryeong Mud Festival. Hang your lantern at the Jinju Lantern Festival and eat your way around the Gwangju World Culture Kimchi Festival. Whichever you choose – Korean festivals are fab!