The Best Dates to Travel to South Korea for Cherry Blossoms 2025

Everyone dreams of their main character moment, twirling under a shower of cherry blossom petals. But with half the world flocking to Japan right now, getting that picture-perfect scene without a hundred strangers in the frame is easier said than done. Sure, you could hop over to Taiwan, where sakura season is already in full bloom—but if that’s not in the cards, why not set your sights on South Korea instead?

Like its neighbors, South Korea also gets its fair share of pink-tinted magic come springtime. Locally known as beot-kkot season, Korea’s cherry blossoms are quickly becoming a crowd-favorite alternative to Japan’s sakura.

This seasonal pink makeover turns cities and countrysides into pastel dreamscapes, where friends, families, and lovebirds gather under the trees for picture-perfect picnics. But just like anywhere else, cherry blossoms in Korea don’t stick around for long—peak bloom lasts only a week or two per spot. So if you’re plotting your hanami moment, Korea's Forest Services just announced their predictions for this springtime's beot-kkot season.

Here's when you should visit South Korea for the 2025 cherry blossom season:

South Korea's Forest Service has just released its initial predictions for the springtime flower blooming season, including forecasts for when the famed cherry blossoms will peak. 

According to the Korea Tourism Organization, this year’s cherry blossoms are expected to bloom three to eight days earlier than average. Areas with warmer temperatures, primarily those south of the Korean Peninsula, such as Jeju and Busan, will see flowers begin to open starting around March 22 to 23. Meanwhile, cooler areas such as Seoul, Incheon, and Chuncheon will have to wait a week or two more before flowering begins. 

Since peak bloom typically happens about a week after the first blossoms appear, expect Seogwipo, Jeju to fully bloom by March 29, while Seoul’s sakura trees should hit their prime around April 8.

Where to go to spot cherry blossoms in South Korea:

Cherry blossoms bloom all over South Korea. Whether you head south to Jeju Island or up north in Chuncheon, you'll see Yoshino cherry trees and King cherry trees in bloom depending on when you visit. Here are some spots where you're guaranteed to spot a few trees here and there for your beot-kkot moment:

• Yeouido Hangang Park: This riverside park is a local-favorite spot for picnicking and slow afternoons. During springtime, the area is teeming with flower petals from azaleas, forsythia, cherry blossoms, and other spring flowers. Time your visit here with the  Yeouido Spring Flower Festival in early April for the best blooms.

  

• Jinhae: This district in Changwon is dubbed Korea's Cherry Blossom Capital. Every year, from the last week of March to early April, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival is held to celebrate the beautiful cherry blossoms that bloom around the area.

  

• Jeonnong-ro, Jeju Island: Jeonnong is a famous street in Jeju City known for its sakura-lined paths. This is also one of the first spots to see cherry blossoms in the entire country.

  

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For more information, visit the Korea Tourism Organization's website.

* This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.

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