BY Jeongbin Park/Joonha Yoo

[ENG] Cherry blossom 

 

 

▲This photo shows cherry blossoms in bloom in Jeju.(PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Beotkkot is a Korean terminology for flowers that blooms on cherry blossom trees. Within South Korea blooming of Beotkkot is a sign which indicates that spring has come. Date of blooming of beotkkot varies depending on its location however majority of the flowers showcases pinkish white color and bloom within March or the beginning of April.

Due to the nature of pretty flowers, beotkkot tree are often times used as colonnades throughout South Korea, therefore throughout the spring time, people can easily encounter beotkkot.

 

 

◇ South Korean breed of beotkkot 'Wangbeotkkot' 

▲This photo shows Natural Habitat of Korean flowering cherries in Bonggae-dong in the city of Jeju.(Yonhap)

 

According to The Academy of Korean Studies's Digital Local Culture Encyclopedia of Korea, South Korean currently withholds over 20 varients of beotkkots out of over 200 variants. Out of those 20 variants, Wangbeotkkot is a South Korean variant of beotkkot where it showcases traits of bigger petals with concentrated colors.

 

Since there aren’t that many Wangbeotkkot trees living within South Korea therefore it withholds high value among botany and geological aspect. Therefore some of the locations within Jeju island is being kept protective of the habitat so that Wangbeotkkot trees can maintain health within the secured nature. One of the Wangbeotkkot tree selected as the natural monument in 1964 “Natrual Habitat of Korean Flowering Cherries in Bonggae-Dong Jeju is one of the significant area.
 

◇ 'Beotkkot Nori' and South Korean beotkkot Festivals 

▲This photo shows people enjoying cherry blossoms in spring.(Yonhap)

 

Every spring number of South Koreans enjoy visiting the widely bloomed beotkkots throughout the streets. Beotkkot nori which describes people’s action of visiting places with fully bloomed beotkkot to take photos and walk around the streets to enjoy the scenic view and various provinces such as Jeju island, North Gyeongsang province, Seoul and more hosts beotkkot festivals showcasing unforgettable scenery.

 

▲This photo shows downtown Jinhae in spring.(Yonhap)
South Gyeongsang Province hosts one of the biggest beotkkot festivals within South Korea called “Jinhae Gunhangje Festival.” Festival will feature over 360 thousand trees bloomed with beotkkot and will showcase unforgettable scenery made by beotkkots which will fill the area through March and April. In 2023, “Jinhae Gunhangje Festival” which has been postponed due to wide spread of Covid 19 kicked off once again in 4 years under the theme of “New World created by beotkkot” and the festival started its journey on March 25 and continue on until April 3.

 

▲This photo shows Yeouiseo-ro, where ‘Yeongdeungpo Yeouido Spring Flower Festival’ is held.(Yonhap)
Moreover, Yeouido within Seoul which is known for beautiful beotkkots within Seoul where it hosts “Yeongdeungpo, Yeouido spring flower festival,” The festival takes place every April on the southern part of the Seogang Bridge within Yeouido Hangang river park. The festival site withholds over 1880 beotkkot trees aligned throughout the road and more various flowers such as azalea, forsythia, rhododendron schlippenbachii and various other spring flowers lighten up the site. The festival will kick off on April 4 and continue on until April 9.

 

◇ Beotkkot within K-pop 
 

▲This photo shows Busker Busker's 1st album jacket. "Cherry Blossom Ending." is included in it. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Beotkkot which represents spring can be witnessed in various K-pop tracks. One of the tracks which incorporates beotkkot is “Cherry Blossom Ending” by Busker Busker which includes South Korean singer songwriter Jang Beom-june. The track “Cherry Blossom Ending” which was released in 2012 is a romantic track which depicts a scene of a loving couple roaming around the scene filled with fully bloomed beotkkot. “Cherry Blossom Ending” which received a lot of positive reviews for well incorporating the scene of the beautiful beotkkot festival is loved by numbers of listeners managing to top the chart every spring despite the fact that it has been out for over 10 years.
 

▲This photo, provided by HYBE shows BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

K-pop world star BTS' track released in 2017 “Spring Day” included within group’s second repackaged full length album “You Never Walk Alone” incorporates beotkkot. The title track “Spring Day” which depicts a cheerful message of wanting to wait for the friend until he or she returns back. Towards the end of the track the last chorus states “Maybe the beotkkots are blooming, and the winter is fading away,” which indicates how the blossoming of beotkkots indicates the end of the cold winter, and the spring which is filled with happiness, and hope is right around the corner.

 

▲This photo, provided by 143Entertainment shows Bobby in ‘Cherry Blossom’ MV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

K-pop boy group iKON’s member Bobby also released a solo track "Cherry Blossom" which incorporates beotkkot on March 21 of 2023. The track depicts the beauty of love in comparison of beotkot.

(END)

 

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]