▲ This photo shows the cherry blossom road in Gyeongju. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo shows cherry blossom in Gyeongju. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by Gyeongju Cultural Foundation, shows 'Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Mar. 10 (Yonhap) – The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival in North Gyeongsang Province, which was not held due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is to be held face-to-face for the first time in four years.

North Gyeongsang Province, Gyeongju City, and Gyeongju Cultural Foundation have announced on Thursday that they will hold the 2023 Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival at Daereungwon Stone Wall and Bonghwangdae Square in Gyeongju from the 31st to April 2nd.

The Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival has not been held face-to-face since 2019 due to the COVID-19 incident.

The Gyeongju Cultural Foundation secures visitor safety by completely controlling vehicles on the Daereungwon Stone Wall, which was introduced in Korea's 100 Beautiful Roads.

It provides things to see, eat, buy, and enjoy on the road where cherry blossoms fly.

In addition, the festival venue will be operated to 10 p.m. from this year, creating a space using lights and creating a photo zone to enjoy cherry blossom photos.

The foundation is to run a program to exchange up to 500 disposable plastic cups bought at a cafe near the festival venue for cups made of eco-friendly materials a day or to pick up trash while looking at cherry blossoms.

In addition, Bonghwangdae Square will be used as a playground where visitors can enter with registered dogs and a guidebook for cherry blossoms will be distributed.

Oh Ji-hyun, CEO of the foundation, said, "We will prepare well so that citizens and tourists to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Gyeongju and take good memories."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Yunhee Cho.)

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