For the past few weeks, South Koreans have been very excited about blossoms. The cherry blossoms started to appear as early as late March in several places in Korea. Therefore, the cherry blossoms signify warm weather and the beginning of spring. However, for high school students, the cherry blossoms aren’t always welcomed as it signifies exam week.
On Apr. 2, the Korea Meteorological Administration announced the official start of cherry-blossom season in Seoul. Seoul’s blossoming of cherry trees is based on an observation tree at the Seoul Weather Center. Since Seoul is located in the coldest part of Korea, cherry blossoms could be spotted in most parts of Korea when the official bloom was announced.
Among high school students, cherry blossoms don’t only signify the beginning of warm weather. It also signifies the beginning of midterm week for a lot of students. Hyun Sung-eun, a Busan high schooler, commented, “The cherry blossoms do make us feel a bit excited since it means that we can expect warmer weather. However, at the same time, I’m depressed to know that spring exams are approaching. A lot of high school students, including myself, have midterm exams in several weeks. I guess you could say that the blooming of cherry trees really is a mixed blessing on our part.”
While it brings mixed feelings for high school students, it certainly is nice to know that spring is right around the corner. Since the cherry blossoms are expected to fall soon, it is encouraged to visit the blooming sites as soon as possible in order to take a last glance at the beautiful flowers.