International Horticulture Goyang Korea 2024 on April 26 got off to a spectacular start at Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do Province. Shown are visitors watching the view in front of the lake.
By Yoo Yeon Gyeong
Photos = Yoo Yeon Gyeong
The northern Seoul suburb of Goyang, Gyeonggi-do Province, is hosting a massive feast of 100 million flowers at Ilsan Lake Park.
International Horticulture Goyang Korea 2024 on April 26 got off to a spectacular start with a wealth of colorful flowers and things to see. Word of mouth about the event has also attracted many visitors.
Under the theme “Earth environment and flowers,” this year’s exhibition is the largest in the event’s history with 50 cities from 30 countries and about 200 organizations and groups participating. Through May 12, 100 million flowers from about 1,000 species will be displayed including the leading varieties from each country.
Visitors can see about 60 types of roses at Rose Garden of International Horticulture Goyang Korea 2024.
Visiting Ilsan Lake Park on April 26, a Korea.net staff writer experienced the strong fragrance of flowers spread through the wind even though the flowers were not visible. Large flower sculptures of a whale and a white-naped crane greeted visitors at the Spectacular Singing Fountain at the event’s entrance.
First, she walked to Theme Garden, which blended well with its natural environment and suddenly a quote from poet Na Tae-joo’s work “Grass Flower” came to mind: “It’s pretty if you look closely at it.” At Nature Learning Center, the writer looked at more than 60 species of native flowers including liverwort (hepatica maxima) from Ulleung-do Island of Ulleung-gun County, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
Waterside Garden was filled with aquatic and emergent plants. At the “circulation garden” was a rose garden of the future with an array of cultivation techniques and floral arrangements. Twenty thousand roses blended well to form a colorful tunnel and a tower with all of their natural colors.
“Click, click, click.” The sounds of camera snaps by families and children on field trips filled the venue. It seemed that all that remained were photos.
World Writers’ Garden was done by three world-class garden designers: Hwang Ji-hae (Korea), Paul Hervey-Brookes (U.K.) Leon Cluge (South Africa). All three won gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.
The indoor exhibition hall had Flower Exchange Center and Flower Industry Exhibition. Just passing by felt like missing out on finding treasure, as the center housed the winners of the Goyang Flower Grand Prix contest, new domestic and foreign flower types, and exotic specimens.
Magic shows and busking performances at Rose Garden and Theme Garden also grabbed attention. Interactive programs like a flower train, water flower bicycles and flower making added to the fun.
Theme Square also hosted the Goyang Flea Market, which was packed with visitors looking to buy quality flowers at lower prices.
Green Oasis by British garden designer Paul Hervey-Brooke features a limited combination of sturdy materials such as rough concrete duct structures, curved steel bars and gravel paving to create a harmony with green plants and express a deep sense of stability.
Much effort went into minimizing carbon emissions at this year’s exhibition through environmental, social and governance practices. A discount of KRW 3,000 goes to each visitor who uses public transportation to get to the event.
More information is available on the exhibition’s official website (www.2024.flower.or.kr).
“International Horticulture Goyang Korea is an opportunity to see at a glance the development of the flower and related industries at a festival-like expo jointly made by regional flower farmers and residents,” Goyang Mayor Lee Dong-hwan said. “To create beautiful memories, please visit International Horticulture Goyang Korea for its many attractions and flower culture events.”
dusrud21@korea.kr
