▲ The 2024 Yeongrangho Cherry Blossom Festival was held in Yeongrangho Lake, Sokcho, from the 30th to the 31st.

Amid the warm spring weather, most parts of Gangwon-do showed cloudy skies due to yellow dust coming down from China over the weekend. Local governments, which were preparing for the spring flower festival due to the late blooming of cherry blossoms, are heartbroken, blaming the indifferent sky.

According to Air Korea of the Korea Environment Corporation, fine dust (PM-10) levels in Gangwon Province rose to very bad levels as yellow dust from China rose on the 29th, and at 8 a.m., Wonju Jungang-dong recorded 600μg per cubic meter, four times the level of very bad (151μg/m3 or more). During the weekend, yellow dust continued, with Hongcheon showing 165㎍/㎥ at 8 p.m. on the 30th and 158㎍/㎥ in Jungang-dong, Wonju on the 31st.

Some observers say that the number of yellow dust occurrences could increase this spring compared to previous years. The Kweather Forecast Center said, "The origin of yellow dust is expected to increase from the average year due to the development, movement, and passage of low pressure that causes a strong upward airflow, which is important for the origin of yellow dust."

Citizens who went to see cherry blossoms through the yellow dust were disappointed by the flowers that did not bloom. During the weekend, a cherry blossom festival was held in the city center of Gangneung, but the unexpected cold weather came and it was held as a "flower-free flower festival," adding to the regret of visitors.

The cherry tree streets of the "2024 Solol Donghaeng Festival Solol Blossom," a cherry blossom festival in the urban area held for two days from the 30th, were quiet. It was also difficult to find visitors at the site of the "2024 New Spring Festival" held at Gangneung Namsan Park. The Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival has postponed the opening of the festival for about a week from the 29th to April 5th in anticipation of delayed cherry blossom blooming.

Sokcho City also announced in an emergency notice on the 27th, three days before the opening of the "2024 Yeongnangho Cherry Blossom Festival," that it would divide this year's cherry blossom festival into two. Sokcho City, which had been anxious about the weather's whims, posted on social media, "I was guilty of death. I can't beat the sky," said Sokcho City's mascots, Chani and Rayo, who held a unique promotional exhibition with Sokcho City Hall officials to offer a bow of apology, drawing public sympathy and attention. Sokcho City said it would hold the festival twice from March 30 to 31, followed by the second from April 6 to 7.

Kim Young-sook, head of the tourism marketing festival team in Sokcho, said, "The cherry blossoms of Yeongrangho Lake in Sokcho are beautiful, so we planned the festival. Seoraksan Mountain and Ulsan Rock from Yeongrang Lake are superb. I hope many people will come and enjoy it on the 6th to 7th," he said. On the other hand, the lowest temperature on the morning of the 1st is -1 to 4 degrees in Yeongseo and 3-7 degrees in Yeongdong, and the highest temperature during the day is 15 to 18 degrees in Yeongseo and 14 to 17 degrees in Yeongdong.