[WEEKEND GETAWAY] Get out and play this May at these seasonal attractions

May, known as family month in Korea, is just around the corner. It's one of the most festive times of the year, when Koreans reach out to families and friends to wish them happiness and wellbeing.

The Dutch Garden of Suncheonman International Garden Expo amuses visitors with vibrant colors. [SUNCHEONMAN INTERNATIONAL GARDEN]

May, known as family month in Korea, is just around the corner. It's one of the most festive times of the year, when Koreans reach out to families and friends to wish them happiness and wellbeing. Since the weather is at its best and people take days off during the national holidays, you will most likely see plenty lists of events and performances popping up on social media.

The metropolitan area gets the spotlight as it is where the most people are, but interesting events are also spread over the rest of the country. Here are four recommendations from the Korea JoongAng Daily for fairs and events to visit for some sunny May vibes.

Goyang International Flower Fair

Visitors look around the flowerbeds at the Goyang International Flower Fair. [NEWS1]

Goyang International Flower Fair, also referred to as International Horticulture Goyang, is one of the largest flower fairs in Korea. The fair is open from Apr. 27 until May 8 at Ilsan Lake Park, Gyeonggi. You can expect to see both wild and tame flowerbeds from all over the world and almost everything that is flora-related. Flower exhibitions are held indoors and outdoors, as well as international forums. Artistic performances and flower markets also spring up.

As both the location and the fair are well known across the country, popular artists and influencers become part of the promotion, not to mention institutions and companies that actively support the events through campaigns and recreational activities. There are multiple gardens that are designed according to respective themes covering sustainability, urban life and international flowers.

@flowerex595 Hosu-ro, Ilsandong District, Goyang, GyeonggiAdmisson fee: 15,000 won for adults, 12,000 won for children, teenagers, and seniors older than 64.Phone number: 031) 908-7750Website: https://flower.or.kr/intro.html

Suncheonman International Garden Expo

A visitor walks along the path of the flowerbed at Suncheonman International Garden Expo. [SUNCHEONMAN INTERNATIONAL GARDEN]

Running from April 1 to Oct. 31, Suncheonman International Garden Expo is where you should head to if you are planning a lengthy, laidback visit to South Jeolla. The entire city is presented as a garden full of natural and artificial viewpoints that are spread over 477 acres [193 hectares] for more than half of the year.

What’s special is that Suncheonman is home to some wetlands and offers a garden that links the tidal flat protection areas. In fact, one of the three must-visit regions is the designated Unesco Biosphere Reserve, the Suncheonman Wetland.

Visitors to the wetland can walk through gardens and the cultural heritage of not just Korea, but also other countries like the French garden in Baroque style.

The other two are Suncheon Bay National Garden, which focuses on the renewal of gardens, and the downtown area. The latter is where the city center turns into an exhibition hall to feature various events. The website provides 100 viewpoints in detail for confused first visitors, so it is recommended to utilize the site for a thorough explanation of the Expo.

@2023gardenexpo47, National Garden 1ho-gil, Suncheon city, South JeollaOpens at 9:00 a.m. but closing time depends on the zone and the season. Check hours of use on the website. Admission allowed one hour before opening and closing hours. Phone number: 061) 749-8000Website: https://scbay.suncheon.go.kr/expo/index.jsp#

HadongWorld Tea Expo

Hadong is famous for its green tea fields. [HADONG]

Global franchises — Starbucks is one leading example — have green tea drinks on their menus named after Hadong. Awareness of health and the environment is visibly increasing and so is the demand for tea. It is sought after by not just Koreans but also foreigners who want to experience some traditional aspects of life in one of the remote areas of the country.

The Hadong World Tea Expo 2023 aims to introduce various selections of tea for visitors and offer them chances to tour around the tea road, a path that links tea-related spots. Make an online reservation by May 3 and get a ticket for 6,000 won, with a 40 percent discount for adults.

@hadongteahouse_official6, Wontap 1-gil, Hwagae-myeon, Hadong-gun, South GyeongsangPhone number:055-880-7070Admission Fee: 10,000 won for adults (age 19-64), 6,000 won for teenagers (ages 13-18), 4,000 won for children (ages 5-12) Those who make an online reservation by May 3, or foreign visitors in groups of 10 or more receive discounts: 6,000 won for adults, 4,000 won for teenagers and 3,000 won for children. Free entrance is granted for seniors over age of 80 and infants under four. Website: https://www.hadongt.co.kr/teas/tea/expo/teaIndexEn

Reading Seoul Plaza

People spend a leisurely reading session on the beanbags at Reading Seoul Plaza. [SEOUL CITY OFFICIAL]

If you are a Seoulite who is seeking a cultural experience without leaving the big city, you can visit the city center for a peaceful and intellectually fulfilling day out.

Seoul Metropolitan Library opens an outdoor library — Reading Seoul Plaza — from Apr. 23 through Nov. 12, except for July and August. You can curl up on the beanbags or mats placed across the grass square with a book. If you forget to bring one, you can always head to where the 11 bookshelves are, equipped with around 5,000 themed books covering love, future, empathy, health and other topics selected by the committee.

Everyone stopping by is welcome to choose a book that suits their tastes, but you do have to put them back before leaving. Apart from the reading zone, there is an event zone where artistic performances and book talks take place, so feel free to check the website for the lineup.

110 Sejongdaero, Jung District, central SeoulThursday to Friday, open 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday to Sunday, open 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Open every Thursday to Sunday, and the operation schedule varies depending on weather conditions. Phone number: 02) 2133-0300Free entranceWebsite: https://lib.seoul.go.kr/rwww/html/en/main.jsp

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BY KIM DONG-EUN [kim.dongeun@joongang.co.kr]