In Korea, spring is the first of the four seasons in any given new year and is the connection between winter and summer. As its name indicates, the season contains beginnings, the prime of life, and new hopes. 

Every spring there is always an event that many people revel in - the blossoming of flowers. At any given moment during the season, you can see many different flowers in many different places bloom. But when do those flowers start bloom? Through the web page "weatheri," a provider of met eorological information, users can find out exactly when Seoul's three main flowers will blossom. According to weatheri, the cherry blossom, spring' s most famous flower, will begin to bloom on April 5. Meanwhile, Korean forsythia (golden bell), the yellow flower commonly referred to as gaenari in Korean, will begin to bloom on March 27. Finally, Korean rosebay, referred to as jindallae, will begin to bloom on March 28. 

How can you bring flowers closer to you this spring, you ask? There are some nice spots both around Kookmin University's campus and Seoul proper where you can enjoy the spring and its beautiful flowers. 

The first campus spot is Yongduri, the university statue. When you enter campus through the main gate and walk up the slope, you can see Yongduri, which is symbol of our university. A fountain is also located near Yongduri, making for a more magnificent scene. When spring arrives, many white royal azalea, called cheoljjuk in Korean, bloom around both Yongduri and the fountain. That is an amazing sight, which connects our university's statue and with nature's beauty. Behind Yongduri there is also a hill called "Sungkok Hill" from which you can see all of campus from a pavilion. The view is especially beautiful in the spring when the flowers are in full bloom. 

The second spot is atop the hill beside the tennis court in front of the College of Engineering where you can walk amid the lovey yellow Korean forsythia. When you walk this path, a row of gaenari greets you with its pleasant smile. You can also watch the school cats, Koonyangi, meander among the flowers, a scene simultaneously picturesque and adorable. 

Finally, the cherry blossom trees, which can be found out on the street in front of the College of Business Administration, create the best spot for those looking to experience real spring at Kookmin University. When Korean people think about spring, the words "cherry blossom," dubbed beotkkot in Korean, spring to the minds of many. There is even a famous song about this flower that is beloved by many Korean every spring. The title of the song is "Beotkkot Ending," and it is performed by the Korean band Busker Busker. You can enjoy the embodiment of spring by walking along the street in front of the College of Business Administration where many students can be seen taking pictures or going on walks. 

So where can you feel and enjoy th wers and spring off campus? There are many festivals throghout Korea that attract many people. I think it's a good choice to go to the festivals to watch the flowers and enjoy the fresh spring air. Individual festivals also contain a number of events. For example, you can experience the creation of objects with festivals' flowers, eat foods made with the flowers, and watch various performances. There are also many festivals in Seoul, and I want to introduce two festivals. First one is "2019 Seokchonhosu Lake Cherry Blossom Festival". It will be held at Seokchon Lake, Songpa District, from April 5 to 12. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, this festival announces start of April. The festival will feature a number of events, such as cultural and artistic performances, concerts, and caricature and face painting. People can enjoy the cherry blossoms along the lake as they immerse themselves in spring. The other festival is "2019 Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival". It will be held in Yeouido from April 5 to 11. There will be many interesting events, including singing contests, carriage rides with flowers, and parades. As the harmony between the Han River and the spring flowers grows, it will also be a good time to feel spring in its entirety. For more information on spring flower festivals, please visit the Korea Tourism Organization's homepage. 

I am sure that you will enjoy a perfect spring full of flowers at either KMU or the different spring flower festivals. Visit the places and festivals with anyone you want, feel the spring, and make good memories! 

Ju-Yeong Kim
​The Kookmin Review Guest Reporter
kimjy9321@kookmin.ac.kr