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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-04-17 06:57:28
SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- The city of Goyang said Friday it will host the 18th Goyang International Flower Festival from April 24 to May 10 at Ilsan Lake Park.
First launched in 1997, the festival has drawn some 9 million visitors from home and abroad, establishing itself as a signature event of the city.
Under the theme “Flowers Color Time,” this year’s festival will fill a 250,000-square-meter venue with outdoor displays, indoor exhibitions, performances, events and a flower market.
Outdoor exhibitions have been redesigned as immersive spaces encouraging visitors to stay and participate, featuring themed gardens representing the past, present and future.
The landmark installation, "Garden of the Time Traveler," depicts a time-travel station using flowers as a medium. Inspired by traditional Korean astronomical instruments, the installation incorporates elements resembling sundials and water clocks. A rotating spherical flower structure, measuring 13 meters in height and 26 meters in width, symbolizes the passage of time.
Other highlights include the “Light Wall Garden,” an elevated garden along a metasequoia-lined path combining traditional Korean aesthetics with hanging garden structures.
Gardens focused on emotional well-being and healing will also be featured. The “Garden of Emotional Temperature” encourages visitors to express their feelings through flowers and colors, incorporating concepts such as MBTI and personal color analysis, while the “Flower Therapy Garden” offers a natural landscape blended with relaxation spaces.
Additional themed gardens evoke nostalgia, including “Flowers of Those Days,” “Memory Alley Garden” and “Reply 1997.”
Various interactive programs will take place throughout the venue. The “Rose Festa” garden will offer experiential zones and performances, while a “rotation blind date” program will provide opportunities for young visitors to meet in a relaxed setting.
A picnic-themed space featuring Pengsoo will also be set up, centered on a 5-meter inflatable figure. A special event allowing visitors to meet the character is scheduled for May 1.
Indoor exhibitions include the global floral artist showcase "Floral Odyssey," featuring five artists from Belgium, Russia, Spain, Hong Kong and South Korea under the theme “Colors of Memory.”
The festival will also present rare and new plant varieties from around 30 countries, including tulips resembling ice crystals, large dahlias and giant roses measuring up to 1.2 meters in length.
At the horticulture industry hall, more than 200 new flower varieties — including about 30 from overseas and 170 domestic — will be introduced.
Visitors can also participate in a campaign to create seed balls to support wildfire-affected areas, jointly organized by the festival foundation and the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute.
A series of competitions will be held on the indoor stage, including the Preserved Flower Cup, the Korean Flower Arrangement Contest, the IHK Cup Flower Design Competition, and children’s and amateur flower decoration contests.
The festival will also feature a wide range of performances. On opening day, the Goyang Civic Choir will perform, followed by singer Kim Da-hyun of "Miss Trot 2."
Programs will take place across three stages — waterside, busking and rose-themed stages — showcasing genres ranging from pop and trot to classical vocals, flute performances, cheerleading and senior fashion shows.
Visitors can also enjoy a water flower bicycle experience available exclusively during the festival period.
Near Hanul Square, the Goyang Flower Market will offer products directly from some 30 local flower farms, along with agricultural goods and unique items.
Admission is priced at 15,000 won for general tickets and 12,000 won for discounted tickets, with an additional 3,000-won discount for Goyang residents, public transportation users and families with two or more children. Advance tickets available through April 19 are offered at lower prices.
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