Spring like summer with cherry blossoms
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A woman walks in Mapo, central Seoul, amid scattered cherry blossom petals, Wednesday. High temperatures brought cherry blossoms to bloom more than 10 days earlier than in previous years. / Yonhap |
By Yoon Sung-won
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A bird alights on a cherry blossom tree in Yunjungno, Monday.
/ Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul |
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The blooming of cherry blossoms tempts us to believe that winter is finally over and spring is upon us.
Sometimes, we are betrayed by what is felt like a seasonal revenge or "ggotsaem chuwi," literally meaning "flower jealousy cold."
This year, we had one or two of those but what is taking us by surprise is unseasonably warm weather.
On the last weekend of March, families, friends and lovers walked under the white-and-pink cherry blossom trees and took pictures against the blooming blossom at Yunjungno, a street in Yeouido, Seoul.
The beautiful spring flower sprouting its petals came in March for the first time in 92 years.
For anyone who recall this period of time last year, which was much colder and even accompanied by snow, the early arrival of spring is met with the warmest of emotions.
Not everyone seemed to welcome this, though.
Cherry blossom generally comes into age in mid April following forsythia, azalea and magnolia, the most popular flowers in springtime here.
This year, however, the abnormally high temperatures in early spring persisted for weeks, brining the flowers to bloom more than 10 days earlier than in previous years.
As the blooming of spring flowers is expected to reach its climax nationwide this weekend, local governments hurried to adjust the date for their spring festivals, saying it’s “embarrassing.”
Seniors and parents of infants who visited Yunjungno suspected that this abnormality would lead to a scorching heat wave in the coming summer.
On Thursday, the temperature started to recover its normal level after a bit chilly weather and rain. And the weather agency confirmed the high temperature will be “short-lived” and is not likely to cause extraordinary heat in this summer.
Spring is too short and it’s just luck that yellow sand storms haven't yet struck here. Why not enjoy the boon at least for the weekend?
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A child looks at cherry blossoms and visitors in Yunjungno, Monday.
/ Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul |
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People watch cherry blossoms during the eve of the 52nd Jinhae Gunhangje Festival in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Monday. The festival, which runs through April 10, is the largest cherry blossom festival in Korea.
/ Yonhap |
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A woman holds a twig of cherry blossoms in Yunjungno, Monday.
/ Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul |
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A photographer takes pictures on Yunjungno Street, Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. The street is the venue for a spring festival.
/ Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul |
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