When Bridge Economy reporters visited the Hantangang area in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, on May 2, they found a curious mix of cheers and disappointed sighs at the openings of the 2026 Pocheon Hantangang Spring Garden Festa and the PetStar Spring Edition.
About 13,000 people poured in on opening day, reaffirming the event’s status as a major local festival. Yet many visitors criticized the garden for missing its most basic attraction—the flowers themselves.
Still, pets stole plenty of hearts. The PetStar Spring Edition brought a lively crowd of dogs and owners, underscoring the growing appeal of pet-friendly events.
The event is part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Pet-Friendly Tourism City Development Project. City officials expect about 2,000 dogs and their owners to visit during the festival period.
On-site programming included Hantangang Dog Trekking with Professor Lee Woong-jong, pet-fitness yoga classes, a live large-dog guide segment, a dog-mission Olympic, and a \"Dang Water Zone,\" offering something for every pet lover.
Another visitor from Gunpo echoed the praise, saying, \"Trekking here with my dog was a real highlight—we’ll definitely come back.\"
Lee Joong-hyo, CEO of the Pocheon Cultural Tourism Foundation, said, \"Thanks to last year’s strong response, we expanded the event to two days this year. We aim to showcase Pocheon as a truly pet-friendly city.\"
'Garden Festa' Without Flowers: Visitors Say the Admission Fee Wasn't Worth It
By contrast, the 2026 Pocheon Hantangang Spring Garden Festa—opening the same day—drew criticism after organizers misjudged bloom timing. Running from May 1 to June 7, the festival had ambitious plans, including nighttime programming (Garden Night) and a Y-shaped suspension bridge, aimed at turning the site into a stay-and-explore destination. But it opened without its most fundamental feature: flowers in full bloom.
Reporters who walked the grounds noted the same shortfall: apart from pots of tulips and a few planted specimens, the expansive area remained close to a plain green field.
A visitor from Goyang who came with family said, \"We brought my parents because we believed the festival’s promotion as a flower event, but the lack of blooms left us very disappointed. Shouldn’t admission be charged only when at least half the flowers have bloomed?\"
A Pocheon city official defended the timing, explaining, \"Pocheon tends to have lower temperatures than other areas, so flowering is a bit delayed. We expect full bloom around May 10.\"
Experts criticized what they called administrative convenience—opening the festival despite the gap between the advertised attractions and reality. They acknowledged the festival’s drawing power, noting more than 13,000 visitors despite competing local events, but warned that poor preparation damaged its image.
That specialist added, \"Flexibility would have preserved the festival’s reputation—either by offering free access until peak bloom or shifting the official opening to match nature’s timetable.\"
Last year the Garden Festa drew 450,000 visitors and became a major regional attraction. Even with this year’s ambitious push to beef up night programming, organizers will need diligent management for the remainder of the run to avoid leaving a lasting mark as the festival that opened too early.
Pocheon — Park Seong-yong, reporter syong323@viva100.com
