Visitors stroll through a lily garden at the Autumn Flower Festival in Inje County, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Visitors stroll through a lily garden at the Autumn Flower Festival in Inje County, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)

After days of rain that lingered through the Chuseok holiday, clear autumn skies finally returned Wednesday, drawing crowds outdoors to savor the crisp air and enjoy the final days of the break.

At the Autumn Flower Festival held in Inje County, Gangwon Province, visitors strolled through lily gardens, soaking in the crisp air and vibrant seasonal colors.

The festival featured four walking trails under the titles of “happiness,” “love,” “communication” and “healing,” allowing visitors to choose their own paths and enjoy a walk that suited their mood.

Along the “healing trail,” visitors could enjoy a cafe adorned with colorful flowers and trees, a tree-climbing zone and a miniature garden — all designed to capture the hearts of nature-loving holidaymakers.

A mother and daughter walk past flowers at the Autumn Flower Festival in Inje, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
A mother and daughter walk past flowers at the Autumn Flower Festival in Inje, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Families and couples spend a relaxing time along walking trails and near a tree house at the Autumn Flower Festival in Inje, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Families and couples spend a relaxing time along walking trails and near a tree house at the Autumn Flower Festival in Inje, Gangwon Province, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)

On the eve of Hangeul Day, children at the Gyeonggi Children’s Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, posed for photos in front of a mural celebrating King Sejong’s creation of the Korean alphabet.

Inside the museum, a special activity invited fathers and children to explore the exhibition halls, where they played detectives to find clues hidden throughout the space and identify the culprit.

Children pose for photos in front of a Hangeul-themed mural at the Gyeonggi Children’s Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday, a day before Hangeul Day. (Yonhap)
Children pose for photos in front of a Hangeul-themed mural at the Gyeonggi Children’s Museum in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday, a day before Hangeul Day. (Yonhap)

In Seoul, long queues formed outside the National Museum of Korea even before opening hours as visitors flocked to special exhibitions and the museum’s popular gift shops.

Traditional performances such as pungmul (folk drumming), talchum (mask dance) and tightrope walking were staged to mark the Chuseok holiday, bringing a festive mood to the autumn season.

Visitors line up to enter the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)
Visitors line up to enter the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, on Wednesday. (Yonhap)

This year’s Chuseok holiday, which falls on Monday, stretches over seven days — longer than usual — as it coincides with other national holidays, including National Foundation Day on Oct. 3 and Hangeul Day on the upcoming Friday.


cjh@heraldcorp.com