Families of diplomats from 12 nations visit Everland Tulip Festival

Families of foreign ambassadors to Korea pose holding tulips during the Everland Tulip Festival in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Saturday. Samsung C&T’s Resort Division reported that 33 family members of ambassadors from 12 countries attended the festival. Courtesy of Samsung C&T

Families of ambassadors from 12 countries, including the Netherlands, Germany and Mexico, visited the Tulip Festival at the Everland amusement park in Yongin, south of Seoul, to experience Korea’s vibrant seasonal flower displays.

Everland said Sunday that 33 family members of ambassadors from countries including Latvia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Spain, Ireland, Ukraine, Colombia, Peru and Australia visited the festival on Saturday. Their visit was organized by Joan Mitchell van der Vliet, the wife of the Dutch ambassador to Korea.

They toured the Four Seasons Garden, where tulips, daffodils and muscari were in full bloom. They joined other festivalgoers in admiring the floral displays, capturing moments at character-themed photo zones and soaking themselves in the spring atmosphere.

The festival showcases around 1.2 million flowers from over 100 varieties. This year, the festival runs from March 21 to June 15 and includes collaborations featuring globally popular characters from Sanrio Company, such as Hello Kitty, My Melody and Kuromi. Since its opening, the festival has drawn more than 150,000 visitors.

The ambassadors' families also explored the Sky Garden Trail, home to 700 plum trees in full bloom. They participated in a guided tour led by the head of Everland’s plant content team and took part in hands-on gardening activities such as bonsai making through the "Garden Pass" program.

“It was wonderful to learn about Korea’s four-season garden culture at Everland,” Vliet said. “I hope the unique charm of K-gardens, experienced through the Tulip Festival, spreads beyond Korea to the world.”