Discover the Beauty of Gunpo Azalea Festival 2026: A Must-Visit Spring Event!

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Around 1 p.m. on the 18th, the azalea hill in Sanbon-dong, Gunpo, swarmed with tens of thousands of flower-lovers. Roughly 220,000 azalea shrubs planted across the 20,000㎡ (about 215,278 sq ft) hill stole the show at the Gunpo Azalea Festival, the largest spring celebration in southwestern Gyeonggi.

An early heat wave — temperatures climbing to about 27°C (around 81°F) — nudged the azaleas into a rapid, lavish display of petals. From the gate of Dojang Middle School across from the hill, pale-pink waves fanned out from the outdoor stage and swept up the slope. Jasanhong azaleas made up most of the sea of color, while Yeongsanhong, mountain azalea, and white azalea punctuated the scene like bright signposts. Visitors in colorful spring outfits stopped at every peak of bloom to snap photos.

This year, the timing was perfect: sun and warmth lined up so visitors could enjoy the full pale-pink spectacle from the opening on the 18th through the closing on the 26th.

People were thrilled. Baek, in his 60s from Gwangju, Gyeonggi, who came with his wife and daughter, said, “We stopped by after hiking Suri Mountain. The lively music and the pretty azaleas tempted us into the night market for a cup of makgeolli. The flowers aren’t fully open yet, but you won’t easily find a view like this anywhere else in the country. I want to come back next year.”

Chu Mo, 75, from Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, said, “This is my second visit. It’s just a short subway ride, and you rarely get such stunning scenery so close to the city. My friend and I shared beer and pork rinds — it came to 35,000 won (about $26.25) — great value for a day of flower viewing.”

Gunpo residents showed obvious pride in the hometown festival, which began in 2011. The Gunpo Azalea Festival became especially meaningful after locals transformed a once-barren hill in the Songjeon transmission-pylon area of the Sanbon new town into a blooming azalea hill and paired it with cultural and hands-on programs.

Kim Ok-sun, 70, who lived in Gunpo for more than 20 years and recently moved to Pyeongchon, Anyang, said she returned like someone coming home just to see the flowers. “Gunpo used to feel like a bedroom town with not much to do, but after they planted azaleas on the hill, it grew into a nationally known festival. Gunpo’s proud of the azalea festival — and of figure skater Kim Yuna,” she said.

Kang Ji-wook, a Suri-dong resident in his 30s, added, “People don’t always realize how many great nature spots Gunpo has. The Suri Mountain trails and the Chomak and Dongmak valleys are easy, beautiful spring escapes — must-visits near the Seoul metro area.”

This year’s festival, hosted by Gunpo City and organized by the Gunpo Cultural Foundation, adopted the slogan “Everyday life becomes a festival for citizens.” The city lined up performances and events designed for active public participation throughout the festival. Food stalls, markets, and hands-on booths run by small businesses let visitors taste local flavors, shop, and try new experiences — a great way to discover Gunpo’s charms.

Gunpo City carefully reviews booth operations from the planning stage and sets fair selling prices, so visitors don’t have to worry about being overcharged. During the festival, the road connecting the azalea hill with nearby parks is closed to vehicles and operates as a pedestrian-only promenade. Beyond the azalea hill, there’s more to explore: about 1 km (roughly 0.62 miles) from the hill’s lookout, Chomakgol Ecological Park offers ecological gardens, ponds, and other spring blooms.

Mayor Ha Eun-ho of Gunpo said, “The Gunpo Azalea Festival draws many residents and tourists every year and stands as our city’s signature spring event. We’ve enhanced nighttime lighting and citizen-focused experiences so people can enjoy the festival both day and night. We hope many visitors come and fully enjoy the beauty of the spring flowers and everything the festival offers.”