During the lunch hour on the 23rd of February, the town plaza buzzed with life as citizens and visitors alike crowded around the Town Hall, hoping for a glimpse of the newly elected Mayor as he gave his inaugural speech. The village appointed Mayor Lee Jaerim at the beginning of the year, but because of important business in Seoul, he could only arrive at Yunhwa this weekend. As a Yunhwa native, the mayor is aware of what happens in the tiny beach town. But he also holds an exceptional qualification, the residents of Yunhwa can’t help but mention his looks in exchange and admire the man’s educational background as a graduate of Seoul University.
The luncheon held for the mayor’s inauguration brought crowds into its historical plaza and was the biggest event the town has seen since the Seollal celebration that recently ended. Lanterns are still strewn across the square, signifying its conclusion, but shortly those will vanish. The celebratory spirit of the inhabitants, however, will never end.
In the middle of his busy schedule and settling into his office in Town Hall, Mayor Lee agreed to an exclusive interview with Yunhwa Ilbo. He first promised to uphold the same virtues and traditions the municipality has passed from generation to generation. He mentioned how delighted he was to be back in Yunhwa. How he always loved visiting the flowers during the spring and seeing the products being sold at the various stalls in the markets.
“The city is different,” he said, looking outside the window with a smile on his face, “the air isn’t as fresh and life feels too complicated.” Mayor Lee then moved on to talk about the events that he had planned for the future, some of which were in proposal long before coming to town. “I want to have plans put in place as soon as March,” he told Yunhwa Ilbo, excitement in his tone, “I’ve always cherished the community energy growing up in the area. The close-knit family bonds and how everybody is just so familiar with each other. That’s something I wish to continue now as mayor, maybe even emphasize more upon those points as well.”
From a brief conversation, it’s easy to tell how dedicated to the job he is and how much heart he is bringing into the title. We are certain that we speak for anybody when we say that we are excited to see what Mayor Lee has to bring to the prosperous town of Yunhwa.
As tradition prevails in Yunhwa, the peaceful woods nesting The Inn is once again bustling with change that didn’t exist before. Smells of fresh meals attract the hungry ones into the neighborhood, guests can see bold squirrels climbing the crowded picnic areas for a quick treat as music plays overhead. The faintest smell of Yunhwa flowers in the distant breeze is a pleasant reminder for anyone around why the event was occurring. Yunhwa’s beloved festival was always a hit with the locals and tourists alike, and this year wasn’t very much distinct.
The stage set out contained no empty schedules as act after act chose to perform, filling the area with festival cheers. From foreign acts from bands, solos, and even comedy acts, the talent that arrived in the town was unbeatable. We had brave Yunhwa residents step up for their chance to shine. One such act was Jung Juno, who blew everyone away with his mesmerizing violin piece. The delicate sound travelled through the commemoration and touched multiple hearts. He earned that standing ovation he heard. Another act that took the spotlight was Lee Miso’s performance of Rollin’ who caught the recognition of many. It was a transition that guests were not expecting, but enjoyed. She supplied the show with passionate dancing and singing, and while the audience seemed to enjoy themselves, the performer appeared to have even more happiness.
Curious patrons also filled the grounds, while the productions received the most attention during the weekend with the many unique scenes. They are walking by booths crammed with delicious food and exceptional handmade merchandise. It was easy to catch Jiang Anran running around the booths assisting people. Han Seojun too, noted to be scattered about though they might have to be more careful with their drink choices next time. Festival goers spotted Na Sejun conversing with different friends, rushing to various booths and sneaking away to watch the flowers. It appears three days wasn’t enough for any of them, and they had to fit everything into their schedule before the end of the festival. We hope they had fun and made lots of memories.
With the ending of the Yunhwa Spring Festival, the quiet falls upon Yunhwa, a return to before and normal life continues. The three-day festival always brought smiles to Yunhwa in the years past, and we are certain that it will continue to do so. Here’s to a great festival and the hopes of an even greater festival next year.
