▲ Sangdomun Village in Sokcho, where the cherry blossom festival was held last year.

In the aftermath of the aging population, the "Sangdomun Village Cherry Blossom Festival," a representative spring flower festival in Sokcho, disappeared. This is because the villagers have led it to an income business, but they can no longer afford to hold a festival.

According to Sokcho City on the 28th, residents of Sangdomun Village recently held a village committee and agreed not to hold a village cherry blossom festival in the future, and delivered the opinion to the city. It has been 15 years since its first hosting in 2009.

Residents of Sangdomun Village decided to abolish the festival, saying, "Since the members of the village women's association who prepare and hold the festival are in their 70s and 80s, it is difficult to hold a festival that attracts more than 10,000 people every year, and it is difficult to continue the festival because there are no young people."

Residents explain that after the festival, residents continue to visit hospitals because they are sick, so they have no choice but to close the festival.

The Sangdomun Village Cherry Blossom Festival was spotlighted as a variety of attractions and experiences, including rural cultural experiences, children's drawing contests, and agricultural product exhibitions and sales. It was operated 10 times until 2018, and the festival resumed last year after failing to hold it for four years from 2020 to 2022 following the 2019 East Coast bushfire.

According to the city, the total population of Sangdomun Village is 343, of which 173 are aged 65 or older, accounting for half. The festival site is located on the road to Seoraksan Mountain, cherry trees along the road form a flower tunnel, and a colorful night view harmonized with lights at night, attracting young visitors. However, in the aftermath of the aging population, it is no longer possible to see a festival with beautiful scenery.

In response, apart from the Sangdomun Village Cherry Blossom Festival, the city is preparing for the Yeongrangho Cherry Blossom Festival to revitalize the northern region starting this year. In the last week of March this year, it will be held at Yeongrang Lake Lawn Square.

Park Sung-kyun, the bank account of Sangdomun Village, said, "We plan to prepare an alternative project, although it is regrettable that the festival was abolished."