"When I touch the cherry blossoms... they feel soft and moist. I've heard many people say they're beautiful, so I was really curious, and now I'm so happy."
At noon on the 8th, in Yeouido Yunjungro (Yeoui-ro) in the Yeongdeungpo District of Seoul, Kim Mo (62), a visually impaired individual, said, "Usually, I rarely have opportunities to leave the neighborhood. It's really nice to be able to feel the flowers when the cherry blossoms bloom." He smiled with excitement under the spring sunlight.
On the 8th, Yeongdeungpo District held a spring flower festival on Yunjungro, where cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Citizens walked along Yunjungro, lined with over 1,000 cherry blossom trees, gathering in groups of family, couples, and friends to take photos. They also spread mats under the shade of the flowers to enjoy their leisure.
Yeongdeungpo District invited around 100 visually impaired individuals and their companions to participate in a 'spring flower companion barrier-free tour' program during the five-day cherry blossom festival. Visually impaired individuals walked along a 1.7 km long cherry blossom road while listening to a guide and experienced spring through touch and smell.
The first impression of the flower path began not by seeing but by imagining it. The flower arch decoration installed at the entrance had a round and dense structure with flowers hanging down. As the guide described the scenery, saying, "The flowers are high enough that you can't reach them by stretching out your hand" and "People are leisurely walking under the cherry blossoms with coffee in hand," the participants naturally slowed their pace and envisioned the scenery in their minds.
Park Su-min (29), a guide who participated in this program last year, noted, "Visually impaired individuals rely on touch and smell, so I try to describe things as vividly as possible."
Imagination soon translated to fingertips and nostrils. A forest path created by an idol fan club within Yeouido Park transformed into a tactile experience zone that day. Here, the cherry trees are lower than in other areas, allowing individuals of adult shoulder height to touch the flowers and leaves. When the guide finished explaining, "The apricot blossoms have five white petals with red stamens," 4 to 5 participants rushed to feel the flowers. One participant laughed, saying, "Cherry blossoms feel more moist than other flowers."
Participants embraced spring in their own ways. Some felt the texture of the petals with their fingertips, while others experienced spring by smelling the scents. Lee Ji-hyun (41), a visually impaired individual, said, "If the flower is too small, I can't feel its outline well, but having a three-dimensional flower like a rose made it much easier to grasp," adding, "Overall, it was pleasantly paced, so I could focus on the experience."
Instead of saying "come this way," the guides provided specific instructions like, "It's at 11 o'clock" to prevent visually impaired individuals from getting lost among the crowd enjoying the cherry blossoms. Guide In Mi-hyun (63) stated, "The safety of visually impaired individuals is our top priority, so I make sure to point out any obstacles nearby."
Shim Won-hee (60), a visually impaired individual, said, "I haven't gone out much except for welfare center classes, but today was really enjoyable because I could touch the flowers and chat with my peers." He expressed a desire to apply again next year.
Yeongdeungpo District plans to continue this program annually. Choi Ho-gwon, the head of Yeongdeungpo District Office, stated, "I want to create a festival that brings everyone together, regardless of disability," and added, "Next year, I will expand participation to include not only more visually impaired individuals but also those with mobility disabilities and various citizens."