Two sisters wearing hanbok on a spring day © KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION – Yang Sungyoung
Over the temple wall, two sisters in hanbok are having a conversation while looking at something. The tall trees, much higher than the children, are covered with impressive pink plum blossoms. Since the winter chill hasn’t completely faded, the children are still wearing winter hanbok. Judging by the type of flowers and the children’s clothing, it seems to be early spring.
This temple is Seonamsa, located in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, about 350 kilometers south of Seoul. Seonamsa is one of the temples that best preserves traditional Buddhist culture and was founded approximately 1,500 years ago. It holds significant ties to the history of Korean Buddhism.
The temple is renowned for its plum trees, which attract many visitors in spring. It is also famous as the filming location of Im Kwon-taek’s movie “Aje Aje Bara Aje” and offers temple stay programs. Nearby, Suncheon Hyangmaesil Village boasts the largest plum cultivation area in Korea. Starting in mid-March, when the plum blossoms begin to bloom, the village hosts a vibrant flower festival for about a month. During this time, the village celebrates with a lively festival.