The ‘2025 Samcheok Rose Festival,’ which filled Samcheok-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, with the scent of roses, successfully concluded its 10-day journey on June 1st, after its grand opening on May 23rd. This year’s festival, themed ‘Rose Fairy and the Secret Garden,’ offered a variety of programs and abundant attractions, leaving visitors with unforgettable memories.
Held in the area of Samcheok’s Osipcheon Rose Park, the festival showcased a magnificent display of over ten million roses from 160,000 bushes of 218 varieties, spanning approximately 85,000 square meters (25,700 pyeong). In particular, the rose blossoms, harmonized with night illumination, created a magical atmosphere, providing numerous spots for 'once-in-a-lifetime photos.' At the 'Flower Shower Photo Zone,' which saw a continuous stream of visitors, guests enjoyed taking commemorative photos with the 'Rose Fairy,' the protagonist of the story.
One of the festival's highlights, the congratulatory air show by the Republic of Korea Air Force Aerobatic Team Black Eagles, took place on May 31st, the day before the closing, at 5 PM over Samcheok Rose Park. The Black Eagles' thrilling acrobatic flight, performed for the first time in Samcheok's skies, provided overwhelming emotion and a special experience for citizens and tourists, marking the grand finale of the festival. Samcheok Tourism and Culture Foundation, in preparation for noise generated by the air show, actively informed citizens in advance in cooperation with relevant organizations and took thorough precautions to prevent visitor safety accidents by deploying additional safety personnel and traffic control staff at key points within the festival grounds.
This year, the Samcheok Rose Festival extended its duration from 5 to 10 days and expanded its operating hours from 1 PM to 9 PM, significantly enhancing night content and participatory programs. The festival was decorated with six themed gardens: Hope, Happiness, Gastronomy, Fantasy, Love, and Art, offering visitors different experiences. The ‘Garden of Hope’ created a fairytale atmosphere with a large castle gate featuring characters from The Little Prince and the Fox, while the ‘Garden of Happiness’ served as a comfortable resting place and the main program stage. In the ‘Garden of Gastronomy,’ a local food village operated by Samcheok local small business owners contributed to revitalizing the regional economy.
Diverse participatory programs also received great responses. The ‘Catch the Golden Rose’ event, held throughout the festival, was very popular, awarding golden roses to visitors who completed missions in the six themed areas of the festival grounds. Additionally, the ‘Flower Path Run Parade’ invited visitors into a fairytale world with rose fairies, spirits, and unique characters marching together. Other unique contents, such as the ‘Little Demon Extermination Operation,’ provided special enjoyment for child visitors.
Cultural performances also added to the richness of the festival. On May 23rd, the opening ceremony featured celebratory performances by singer Roy Kim and the Hungarian jazz group Budapest Kovacs Trio, signaling a spectacular start. Afterward, enchanting stages by popular singers like Punch (May 24th), Gyeongseoyeji (May 25th), Sweet Sorrow (May 31st), and The Ade (June 1st) continued, receiving great acclaim from the audience. In addition to the main stage, busking and fringe performances were regularly held throughout the festival grounds, offering diverse entertainment to visitors. Special exhibitions such as the 'Van Gogh × Ten Million Roses Special Exhibition' also provided new attractions through the harmony of art and roses.
An official from the Samcheok Tourism and Culture Foundation stated, “This year, the festival conducted big data analysis and on-site surveys concurrently for more accurate visitor count aggregation and satisfaction surveys, and the analysis results will be shared with citizens.” The 2025 Samcheok Rose Festival, where ten million roses harmonized with various attractions, successfully concluded, solidifying its status as a representative flower festival on the East Coast.
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