Early autumn brought crowds outdoors over the weekend, with festivals and tourist destinations across the country bustling after weeks of intense heat and late monsoon rains.
Families and couples embraced the changing season at a sprawling buckwheat field in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, enjoying the cool breeze as they rode a small train through a sea of white blossoms or strolled along flower-lined paths, stopping to take photos.
The annual Hyoseok Cultural Festival, which began Friday and runs through Sept. 13, is in full swing. First held in 1999, the festival celebrates modern Korean writer Yi Hyo-seok and his acclaimed novel, "When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom."
The festival also features a variety of activities, including book discussions while walking through the buckwheat fields, gatherings around fires of burning leaves and traditional outdoor performances.
The iconic overwater bike ride in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, dubbed "Aranabi," is also drawing crowds eager to enjoy the cool autumn breeze and coastal views. The 300-meter course takes riders between Anmok Beach and Namhangjin Beach, about 20 meters above the water.
The country is expected to settle into typical early autumn weather starting Monday, which marks "baengno," a traditional seasonal marker signaling the arrival of full-fledged autumn.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, morning lows are forecast to range from 15 to 22 degrees Celsius nationwide throughout the week, while daytime highs are expected to reach 23 to 31 C.
cjh@heraldcorp.com
