Where to go in Korea in March: 12 festivals

Festivals and seasonal sights in 20 places across Korea in March: Jeju Fire Festival (Jeju), Cheonghak Water Dropwort Sale (Hadong), Yudalsan forsythia…

Top 10

Jeju

• Jeju Fire Festival — Six days in early-to-mid March at Saebyeol Oreum. Since 2026 the hill is 'set alight' with projected media art instead of real fire. Park at the temporary lots and take the shuttle.
• Jeonnong-ro Cherry Blossom Festival — Three days at the end of March: the avenue of king cherry trees goes car-free and is lit at night. A cold snap can push the bloom past the festival.

Hadong

• Cheonghak Water Dropwort Sale — Water dropwort grown on Jirisan water, bundled and sold straight from the beds. Pick up a bunch on the way to Samseonggung and lay it over pork belly at dinner.
• Hwagae Market Cherry Blossom Festival — Everyone arrives at once under the blossom tunnel. The lots fill by morning, so set out early from Hadong-eup or Gurye.

Mokpo

• Yudalsan forsythia and cherry blossom — The path from Nojeokbong up to the sculpture park turns yellow with forsythia while the ring road becomes a cherry tunnel. Fullest about a week after first bloom.

Busan

• Cherry Blossoms — Opens in late March and peaks the first week of April. Oncheoncheon is right off the subway; Samnak has the long tunnel of blossoms.

Changwon

• Jinhae cherry blossoms — The trees often peak a few days before the festival opens. For blossoms without crowds, come on a weekday morning just before it starts.

Tongyeong

• Tongyeong International Music Festival — A spring classical festival honouring composer Isang Yun, in a concert hall looking out to sea. Popular programmes sell out early.
• Flounder & Mugwort Soup Season — Young flounder simmered clear with the first mugwort. It appears on menus only in spring, so order it when you see it.

Gurye

• Gurye Sansuyu Blossom Festival — In mid-March the whole Sandong valley turns yellow. The hot-spring parking fills by morning on weekends, so go early or on a weekday.
• Red plum blossom at Hwaeomsa — Mid-to-late March a single dark-red plum tree draws a line of cameras. It opens the same week as the sansuyu, so you can see both in a day.

Boryeong

• Muchangpo Webfoot Octopus & Flounder Festival — Runs mid-March to early April during spring octopus season; sea-road opening times are posted alongside the schedule.

Yeosu

• Yeongchwisan Azalea Festival — A late-March weekend when the whole mountain goes pink; a trail race runs alongside. The Heungguksa lot fills early on festival mornings.

Samcheok

• Samcheok Daeboreum Festival — Held around the first full moon of the lunar year. The centrepiece is the gijul tug-of-war between villages and the moon-house bonfire; in 2026 the full moon falls on 3 March.

Jan · Feb · Mar · Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov · Dec