Welcome to Seosan

Admittedly, the small town in the South Chungcheong Province did not rank very high on my top Korea destinations list. In fact, I barely knew anything about Seosan before my trip.

Seosan Lake Park is popular for walks and is surrounded by many coffee shops and restaurants

After taking some photos came the shock, I saw the lake, or at least where it was supposed to be. The huge pool is empty! Confused, I look for an explanation and soon find an announcement that explains that some remodeling is in progress and thus the water was drained from the lake. I had a hard time hiding my disappointment, also because I had seen very pretty-looking photos of the park before my arrival.

The lake park also has different art installations

But this feeling soon disappeared as I strolled around and discovered the various art installations in the park hidden behind trees and bushes. The sun slowly sets, and the sky turns crimson red like the leaves on the trees.

Food trucks at the entrance to the flower festival

Fast forward to the next morning: My friend, who arrived in Seosan the previous night, and I are hungry and planless; a bad combination. We decided to think about our schedule over brunch, which turned out to be a great idea. While we fill up on scrambled eggs and french toast we find an article about the Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival, which is ending on this very day. We take this as a sign and with a full belly we make our way to the festival. The entrance area is full of food trucks and somethings about it reminds me of the funfairs at home that take place in autumn as well, despite the fact that very different food is sold.

Unique flower art

Families with children, couples, groups of friends, elderly people, etc.; the festival brings all of them together. I really enjoyed the local atmosphere; it’s clearly a festival with a Korean audience in mind which makes it a very authentic experience. A trot band is having a concert on the small plaza and elderly people are dancing and enjoying themselves. The festival has no entrance fee and many attractions, such as flower picking, traditional performances and a flower labyrinth.
I have always been an anthophile and so the presence of thousands of colourful flowers fills me with joy and happiness.

A traditional Korean performance at the festival

The colourful festival brings together people of all ages

Clearly I am not the only one, I think, as we walk around the flower fields and see parents taking baby pictures, groups of friends collecting flowers and even elderly couples getting out their smartphones for a commemorative selfie.

Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival turned out to be the perfect choice to learn more about the area, try some local food and take some beautiful pictures. There is only one downside. Having to wait another year for it to happen again!

Chrysanthemum Fields Forever

Seosan Chrysanthemum Festival

More Information

The comfortable bed is the highlight of Seosan Hotel

Seosan Hotel is centrally located near the Seosan rodeo, a street with many restaurants and entertainment options. It is also located in walking distance to the bus terminal. After parking the car we make our way to the reception where we are quickly given our room keys as well as an amenity kit, including things like cleansing foams, toothbrushes and lotions. The friendly lady encourages us to take some tangerines from the basket, to which we can’t say no. They are sweet and juicy and make for a perfect snack while watching some TV in the room.

Rest your head on a soft pillow

The double room we booked has a large and comfortable double bed, a small couch, a vanity table, TV and a large bathroom with a shower.
While there is no particularly pretty view or fancy extras, Seosan Hotel is great value for money. For just 40,000 KRW a night it is a steal and the comfortable mattress and pillows make for a good night of sleep. If you want to enjoy some dinner and maybe even a drink, all you would have to do is step out the door. We were too tired that day to properly make use of this offer but it is definitely a great option to end the day.

Little details like this tourist map of Seosan ensure the guests’ comfort

Overall the place has a very clean and quiet feel, so this is not exactly the place to find new friends but it will provide you with privacy and a nice place to sleep instead. For those unsure of what to do in the area it also has a big tourist map in the elevator, so you can take your pick. Despite its proximity to food, entertainment, and public transport, it is peaceful. This, together with the fact that there are no breakfast options, and the comfy bed resulted in us sleeping in until almost lunch time. Sorry, not sorry.

Staying at Seosan Hotel has been a pleasant experience and proved to be an excellent choice for travelers seeking comfort on a budget.