3rd Annual Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Festival in Gongju

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A Must-See for Flower Lovers

I apologize. This article was supposed to be posted 2 weeks ago so you could attend the opening ceremony. However, the 3rd Annual Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Festival in Gongju takes place from June 7 to June 20, 2024, and you have time to witness this beautiful display of nature. Over these two weeks, experience vibrant flower colors and exciting summer events like a hydrangea fireworks display, live music, and performances. Get a hydrangea-themed tattoo, fly a kite, or snap Instagram-worthy photos while riding a monorail through the stunning hydrangea fields.

Table of Contents

• A Must-See for Flower Lovers
• Table of Contents
• The History of Gongju
• Hydrangea Festival in Gongju
• Where to Stay
• What You Need to Know
• While in Gongju

We not only attended the first festival back in 2022 but also participated in the opening day ceremonies. I love all flowers, but hydrangeas are definitely one of my favorite flowers!

This new festival quickly became the largest hydrangea festival in the central region of Korea. I couldn’t wait to stroll amongst stalks of flowers taller than my 5’2″ frame, take a few selfies, and make a crown of hydrangeas – which was more than fitting. Not only does Gongju mean Princess in English, but I play one in real life!

The History of Gongju

The Old and New Seat of Government?

When I decided to go to the hydrangea festival, I didn’t think I had been to Gongju before. But as soon as I did some research, I realized my friend Robyn and I stumbled upon the city during a hiking trip last October.

Gongju was the capital of the Baekje Kingdom from AD 475 to 538. It is also home to the Beautiful Baekje Festival, held in October for the past 68 years. For more information, Click Here.

Ironically, just outside of Gongju, the Korean government recently built the new city of Sejong. This is currently the subject of a very controversial decision: to relocate most of Seoul’s government offices to the area to reduce overcrowding and Seoul’s economic dominance over the rest of South Korea.

Hydrangea Festival in Gongju

Garden Open Until Mid – Late July

The Yugu Saek-dong Hydrangea Garden was created in 2018 alongside the Yugucheon waterfront in the tiny town of Yugu. The festival site is 43,000 square meters (or 1.7 miles) in size, with more than 16,000 hydrangeas. The garden boasts 22 different varieties of hydrangeas – all of which were expected to be in full bloom during the festival. However, one or two varietals hadn’t bloomed yet when I went.

This is the third Yugu Saekdong Hydrangea Festival in the Gongju province. Although the festival is from June 7 to 20, the garden will be open until mid-to-late July. It is an economic project intended to revitalize the local economy.

The festival will draw creatives from around Korea and include hands-on experiences such as making hydrangea bouquets, flower crowns, postcards, and paper art projects. If you decide to come, tag and enter those beautiful photographs into the photo contest, which will also be held from the 17th through the 30th. Photography enthusiasts who post photos taken at the Hydrangea Garden on social media may win a prize.

Where to Stay

Best Western Plus Hotel in Sejong

Gongju is 192 km or 119 miles, or a 2.5-hour drive from Daegu or 90 minutes from the Seoul metropolitan area. That is normally a day trip for us. As the name indicates, the festival venue is in Yugu, which does not offer many accommodations for out-of-town guests. Check availability to the Best Western in Sejong here.

The best time to take photos is likely just before sunset, a terrible time to get on the road. Since a few nighttime activities are scheduled for opening day, we decided to stay in the area overnight.

On a floral side note…. if you decide to stay in Sejong, the National Arboretum is located there and is quite beautiful.

We decided to stay at the Best Western Plus Hotel in Sejong because of the member points and the familiar amenities. It’s a new hotel approximately 13km from the hydrangea festival in Gongju. The hotel has a great gym, so I will not have any excuses not to work out in the morning.

What You Need to Know

Although there were many people from other areas of Korea. However, due to the lack of parking, it felt more like a local event. The entire community turned out to support the festival. From the moment we stepped from our car, we felt welcomed. The locals ushered us towards the festival, down narrow alleys, and through parking lots. We were given bottled water from one of the locals near a mural.

Here are a few tips for a great experience:

• Go early morning or late afternoon for better lighting & less heat
• Be patient and prepared to wait if you don’t want people in your shot or you’d like to photograph a particular location
• Wear breathable clothing & footwear– no knitwear
• Bring water, an umbrella, & sunblock
• Take a break at one of the local cafes & murals
• Do make time to check out Gongju
• Bring a camera stand and remote control if you don’t bring a photo buddy
• Post your pictures, tag #유구색동수국꽃축제, and #duffelbagspouse_travels to enter the photo contest so I can check out your photographs.
• And finally, be aware that mask-wearing was encouraged, but not enforced.

While in Gongju

Gongju, South Korea, is renowned for its rich historical and cultural heritage. The city is home to Gongsanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the Baekje Kingdom. This mountain fortress offers stunning views of the city and the Geumgang River and represents ancient Korean defensive architecture. The Gongju National Museum, another highlight, houses an extensive collection of Baekje period artifacts, including relics from King Muryeong’s tomb, providing deep insights into Korea’s ancient history.

Additionally, Magoksa Temple, a significant Buddhist temple of the Jogye Order, is known for its picturesque setting and tranquil atmosphere, attracting tourists and pilgrims. Gongju also hosts the Baekje Cultural Festival, celebrating the history and culture of the Baekje Kingdom with parades, performances, and reenactments. These features make Gongju a significant destination for those interested in South Korea’s ancient history and cultural legacy. Click Here For More Info

• Yugu Murals
• Gongju Gongsanseong Fortress (Bong Coffee House has a great view)
• Mir Island
• Tomb of King Muryeong
• Suanbo Footbath

If you want to attend more flower festivals in South Korea, click here for more information.

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🇺🇸 Stacey Peters

I started blogging, writing, and taking travel-related photos to stay in touch with my friends and family while I traveled around the world with my soldier. So far, we’ve lived on three continents and traveled to more than 70 countries. Every new country increases my desire to see more. I have a passion for history, wine, and new experiences. This is the third time we’ve been assigned to live in Korea. We had the chance to go anywhere, but we chose to return to Korea one last time before my husband retired from military service.

We chose Korea over Germany because we have a lot of Korean National friends, we love the food, culture, and traditions. I have enjoyed living in Korea, but I realized I hadn’t immersed myself in the community. I had a ton of “surface-level” knowledge, and that’s okay for some people. But not me. So we returned to Korea to take everything we had left on the table. I have had many experiences understanding what to do but not why I should do it. So I intend to delve deeper, ask why instead of what, and find out what I don’t know I didn’t know. Lol.

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