Jinhae Naval Port Festival

The event began on April 13, 1952, when the first statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin was erected at Bukwon Rotary and a memorial service was held. In the early days, the ceremony was limited to the ritual held at Bukwon Rotary, where the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin stands. However, starting in 1963, the festival was expanded into the Jinhae Naval Port Festival. Since then, it has undergone substantial growth year after year. It has evolved into a spring festival where visitors can enjoy cultural and artistic events, the World Military Band Festival, and the Paldo Folk Market alongside beautiful cherry blossoms, all while preserving the original purpose of commemorating Admiral Yi Sun-sin's noble spirit of patriotism and promoting local culture and arts. It has now firmly established itself as a nationwide festival boasting a long history and tradition, attracting over 2 million domestic and international tourists during the festival period. March, when the Jinhae Naval Port Festival—the pinnacle of cherry blossom viewing—is held, draws spring enthusiasts from across the country to this naval port city embracing the calm sea. When the pure white blossoms of 360,000 Yoshino cherry trees burst into bloom all at once, the sight of people immersed in photo-obsessed pursuits to capture spring memories in the world's largest cherry blossom city, along with those intoxicated by the spring spectacle of falling petals, creates a magnificent spectacle of the festival. The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival features events commemorating the spirit of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and themed events at famous cherry blossom spots. Major events, such as the eve ceremony, the Paldo Folk Market, and art and culture performances, are held at Jungwon Rotary, while tea and flower offerings at the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a grand memorial service, and a victory parade take place at Bukwon Rotary. Furthermore, the Military Band and Honor Guard Festival, which highlights the unique characteristics of a naval port city, is held on Friday evenings and weekends during the festival period. As a military art performance that fuses military bands and honor guards, the energetic marching performances of the military bands and the disciplined performances of the honor guards in their 멋있는 uniforms are unique sights that can only be seen at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. The Korea Naval Academy and the Jinhae Naval Base Command, which are normally not freely accessible, are must-visit destinations during the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. Visitors can participate in various experiential activities, such as touring the Naval Academy Museum and the replica of the Turtle Ship, viewing naval vessels, attending photo exhibitions, trying on naval uniforms, and boarding yacht cruises. Along with the grandeur of Korea's naval base, visitors can fully enjoy the magnificent beauty of the cherry blossoms from Yoshino cherry trees that are over 100 years old. Notable cherry blossom spots known during the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival include the Naesumyeon Ecological Park, Yeojwacheon Stream, Gyeonghwa Station, Jinhae Tower, and Jinhae Pavilion. Taking the Jehwangsan Monorail to the rooftop of Jinhae Tower and looking down at the city reveals a landscape stretching long from east to west, with mountains resembling a folding screen above and the calm sea below. Centered around the Jungwon Rotary, one can take in a panoramic view of this charming and peaceful city, where century-old buildings coexisting with the modern era blend harmoniously with 360,000 cherry trees. Jinhae-gu features three major roundabouts in the city center, with Jungwon, Bukwon, and Namwon roundabouts prominently situated, from which eight roads radiate out. Modern cultural heritage sites are scattered throughout the alleys of Jungwon Roundabout, lined with buildings dating back 100 years, such as the Jinhae Post Office, Seonhak Gomtang Restaurant, Heukbaek Cafe, Yeonghaeru, and Ppojokjip. A must-visit destination after taking a journey through the eight alleys of Jungwon Roundabout is the Gunhang Village History Museum. Here, visitors can listen to firsthand storytelling alongside photographs of the old city landscape and the naval port development that began in 1902, allowing them to immerse themselves in another charm held within Cherry Blossom Jinhae.