In North Gyeongsang Province's Andong and four other cities and counties, as well as in South Gyeongsang Province's Sancheong and Hadong, and Ulsan, the largest wildfire in history has caused the cancellation or postponement of spring festivals in the Yeongnam region. As a result, a festival planned in Seoul was also canceled, leading some local merchants to express their dissatisfaction over missing the crucial sales opportunity.
According to local governments on the 1st, festivals that were scheduled to be held in North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu City for spring have been canceled or postponed. Andong City canceled the 're-enactment of the final return journey of Confucius' scheduled from the 31st of last month to the 13th of this month, as well as the 'Andong Cherry Blossom Festival' planned for early April. Pohang City also indefinitely postponed the 'National Hiking Competition at Naeyeonsan' and the 'Jangnyang Tteokgogae Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival,' while canceling the '2025 Homibangdo Canola Flower Festival' set for April 5-6 at Homigot Sunrise Plaza.
Daegu's Dalseong County canceled the 'Dalchangji Cherry Blossom Festival' and the 'Okpo Cherry Blossom Festival' that were supposed to start on the 28th of last month. The Goseong-dong Cherry Blossom Heart Festival, planned for the 28th in Buk District, was also canceled. North Gyeongsang Province's Gyeongsan City canceled the 'Walking Competition on the Bancokji Peach Blossom Path' scheduled for the 5th.
However, the Jinhae Gunhangje, a prominent cherry blossom festival in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, is proceeding as scheduled from the 28th of last month to the 6th of this month. Considering the wildfire damage, the event is being significantly scaled back, including the cancellation of the Navy Academy and the Navy Jinhae Base Command's open house events. A Jinhae District official stated, “It is difficult to fully cancel the festival considering the revitalization of the local economy.”
Residents of Jinhae express that continuing the festival is preferable. Jo, 28, who attends the festival every year, said, “If the biggest festival of the year, like the Gunhangje, is canceled in a regional city like Jinhae, it severely impacts the sales of small businesses for the entire year.” Lee, 27, also noted, “The local economy was significantly impacted when the Gunhangje was canceled for three years during the COVID period.”
In Seoul, there are also festivals that have been canceled due to the Yeongnam wildfires. The '2025 Dobong Cherry Blossom Festival,' which was scheduled to be held from April 4 to 8 at Ui Stream in Dobong District, has been completely canceled.
However, local merchants near Ui Stream expressed understanding while feeling disappointed. Jeong Sun-geum, 59, who has been running a pub at Baeknyeon Market for 21 years, said, “I heard about the festival cancellation today (the 31st of last month),” adding, “This festival is a significant event that only happens once a year, and it brings a lot of people, bustling the market. I was looking forward to it, so it's truly disappointing to see it canceled.”
A Dobong District official stated, “We determined that holding a festival during a national disaster is inappropriate, so we held an emergency meeting on the 28th of last month and decided to cancel the cherry blossom festival,” adding, “We will assess the damages incurred by related businesses due to the sudden cancellation just a week prior.”
In Yeongdeungpo District's Yeouido Yunjungro and Songpa District's Seokchon Lake, where cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in Seoul, the festivals will proceed as planned. However, given the wildfire disaster, the scale of events such as the opening ceremony will be reduced. An official from Yeongdeungpo District stated, “Even if the festival is canceled, those who want to see the cherry blossoms will visit Yunjungro.” A Songpa District official noted, “If we cancel the festival, the businesses that were set to participate will suffer losses,” adding, “Nearby merchants might feel disappointed, so we decided to proceed with the festival.”