Part 1: Spring in Seoul: Chasing Cherry Blossoms

A 2-part reflection on Seoul’s fleeting blossoms, childhood memories in bloom and the price of fruit.

In early April, Seoul transforms - it dressed in petals. Cherry blossom season in Korea isn’t just a season — it’s a phenomenon. Specialized cherry blossom tours planned around it, parks fill with picnickers, and people flood the streets in search of the perfect bloom.

While cherry blossoms, or beotkkot (벚꽃), originally came from Japan, Korea has made them its own. Subtle, graceful and grounded in tradition.

In Seoul, while cherry blossoms carry a soft pink shade when they first open, they are mainly white with the Yoshino cherry trees being the most common variety in Korea. The richer pink blossoms like the King cherry tree can be mostly found on Jeju Island.

The season begins in the south in late March and travels north, reaching Seoul in early April. The peak? Usually around the first or second week. Blink and you’ll miss it. One gusty rainfall and it’s over — petals blown off branches like springtime snowflakes.

That’s exactly what happened this weekend. It had hit 23 degrees just days before, and we knew - this was it. We were on a mission to catch the final blush of spring.

Our first stop was Seoul Grand Park with thick clusters of blossoms, so dense they arched over walkways like floating clouds. In some areas, they framed city views and calm lakeside paths. The cable cars — drifting above the trees, giving you a soft-focus aerial view of the white-pink canopy below. Pure magic.

Next up: Seokchon Lake.

If you’ve ever wondered what spring looks like under stage lights — this is it. By day, the lake sparkles with delicate blossoms and shimmering reflections. By night, it transforms. Pink LED lights wrap around the trees, and when those switch off — 10 PM sharp (don’t get caught off guard) — soft white ones take over. Lotte Tower looms in its beauty wrapped in colourful lights like Seoul’s own Eiffel Tower or Big Ben, casting a glittering reflection across the water.

At 8PM, it was packed. Synchronized strolling. Giggling couples, mobile phones lighting up the night sky. Influencers in heels. The atmosphere? Electric. Romantic. Crowded. And even in the rain — umbrellas up, petals swirling like confetti — it felt like being inside a snow globe of spring.

Next up: Namsan Park & N Seoul Tower.

We hopped on the 01A/01B bus from Insadong and ended up just below the tower — right at Namsan Palgakjeong Pavilion, where the cherry blossoms were already putting on a show. From there, we strolled up to the tower itself: more blossoms, sweeping city views, and a soft breeze that made the petals dance in the air. After soaking it all in, we took the steps down — a quiet, winding path lined with blooms and skyline glimpses.

Of course, there are other beautiful, famous spots to chase the bloom — each with its own mood, its own magic.

Yeouido Park is the big one — Seoul’s cherry blossom celebrity. A stretch of road along the Han River transforms into a tunnel of petals, packed with families, couples, and photographers. It’s loud, lively, and almost festival-like — the Coachella of cherry blossoms.

Kyunghee University offers a quieter kind of beauty. The European-style architecture gives it an old-world charm, and when the blossoms frame the grand buildings and stone staircases, it feels like walking through a romantic postcard.

Then there’s Seoul Forest — a more spacious, peaceful option. With wide paths, grassy lawns, and lakeside views, it’s perfect for a laid-back picnic or just a slow stroll away from the crowds.

And then there are the palaces — where blossoms meet history. Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung all burst into bloom each spring, offering a serene, almost timeless experience. Walking under petals in a hanbok, framed by tiled rooftops and mountain views? It feels like something out of a historical drama. Quiet, cinematic, unforgettable.

Each of these places offers a different way to experience spring — whether you’re in the mood for buzz or stillness, grandeur or simplicity. And that’s what makes cherry blossom season in Seoul so special — it meets you where you are. Whether it's on your way to or from work, walking between high-rises, or strolling down a quiet street on a romantic evening — it doesn’t have to be a planned trip. The blossoms are just there for a while, waiting to be noticed. A brief window to soak up the beauty of spring just before the wind carries it away.

But chasing cherry blossoms in Seoul also led me somewhere unexpected — back to another spring, in another country. Real cherries. Tree climbing. Sticky fingers.

Not just petals this time, but fruit — and the price we pay for sweetness.

(To be continued… in Part 2)