The Gunpo Azalea Festival, one of the most prominent spring festivals in southern Gyeonggi Province, will run from April 18 to 26 at Azalea Hill and Azalea Park in Sanbon-dong.
The festival centers on Azalea Hill, a hillside in Sanbon New Town that citizens planted with azaleas by hand more than 20 years ago to transform a barren slope beneath transmission towers. It has grown into Gunpo's signature festival, combining diverse hands-on experiences and cultural programs. Since being featured as a "must-visit spring destination" by the Korea Tourism Organization in 2017, it has been selected every year as a representative Gyeonggi Province tourism festival, earning recognition as the largest spring festival in the southern Gyeonggi region. The event draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
To help citizens enjoy the festival more comfortably, Gunpo will designate the stretch from 8-danji Intersection to Fire Station Intersection as a car-free zone from midnight on April 18 through 10 p.m. on April 19. The city plans to offer a variety of performances, flea markets and food trucks during that period.
The opening ceremony celebration at 7 p.m. on April 18 will feature singer Lee Seung-gi, known for hit songs such as "Because You're My Woman" and "Will You Marry Me," and singer Park Jung-hyun, celebrated for signature tracks including "In Dreams" and "I'll Write You a Letter." The performers will give visitors a memorable spring evening.
What sets this year's festival apart from typical spring flower festivals is an expanded lineup of nighttime content that extends the experience into the evening, when the scent of spring blossoms deepens.
"Azalea Light-up" installations using various lighting effects will illuminate the walkways and photo zones on Azalea Hill. In the tunnel section of Azalea Park, an interactive lighting space that responds to movement and sound will offer participatory experiences for visitors. The additions are expected to enrich the romantic atmosphere of spring nights amid the azaleas.
"The Gunpo Azalea Festival is our city's signature spring festival, attracting many citizens and tourists every year," Gunpo Mayor Ha Eun-ho said. "We have prepared a festival that can be enjoyed both day and night by strengthening nighttime scenery and participatory content beyond just viewing azaleas. I hope many people will visit and fully experience the beauty of spring flowers and the joy the festival offers."