You may notice quite a few homeless people around Seoul Station. A lot of visitors ask me, “Why are there so many homeless people here?” One of the biggest reasons goes back to 1997, during the Asian Financial Crisis. In Korea, we usually call it the IMF Crisis . A lot of companies went bankrupt, unemployment rose very quickly, and many people suddenly lost their jobs and income. Some people eventually lost their homes as well. And many of them came to Seoul Station . Why here? Because this was one of the main places to find day labor and temporary jobs , and it was also the main railway station if they wanted to go back to their hometowns. But some had no money left and nowhere else to go, so they stayed around the station. That is one reason Seoul Station became one of the main gathering places for homeless people after the 1997 crisis. Then another thing happened. Once many homeless people were here, churches, charities, NGOs, and the government started providing help here. Th...
Jinhae is a district of Changwon. Changwon has about 1 million residents, and Jinhae itself has roughly 180,000 people. The city is located on the southern coast, facing the Korea Strait. Because of this geography, it became strategically important for naval defense.
Jinhae has a deep, naturally sheltered harbor. The land curves inward, protecting ships from strong waves and outside attacks. The water is deep enough for large naval vessels to dock safely. Because it faces the Korea Strait, naval forces here could monitor and control major sea routes connecting Korea, Japan, and China. In earlier centuries, control of sea routes meant control of trade, communication, and military supply. For that reason, this region already had strategic importance during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910).
In 1910, Korea was annexed by Japan. During the colonial period, Japan needed a strong naval base in the southern part of the peninsula. Jinhae’s protected harbor and strategic location made it ideal. In 1916, Japan began constructing a modern naval port here.
Along with military facilities, thousands of cherry blossom trees were planted. Most of the cherry blossom trees in Jinhae are Somei Yoshino (染井吉野), a variety that originated in Japan.
In Japan, cherry blossoms were associated with the samurai spirit. Cherry blossoms bloom quickly and fall at their most beautiful moment. They do not gradually wither on the branch. This characteristic was compared to the ideal warrior’s life. A samurai was expected to live honorably and, if necessary, die at the height of dignity. Dying before losing honor or experiencing decline was considered heroic. In the same way, cherry blossoms fall beautifully at their peak instead of slowly fading. Because of this symbolism, cherry trees were often planted around military institutions.
Originally, these trees were part of a military landscape.
After liberation in 1945, the naval base remained, and the cherry trees remained. In 1950, the Korean War began. Although the war was between North and South Korea, Jinhae chose to honor Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
During the Imjin War (1592–1598), Japan invaded Korea. Admiral Yi secured control of the sea and disrupted Japanese supply routes. Without stable maritime supply lines, the invasion forces weakened and could not sustain long-term occupation. He became a lasting symbol of leadership and national defense during crisis.
In 1952, during the Korean War, the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival began. “Gunhang” means naval port. Honoring Admiral Yi in a former Japanese naval base redefined the identity of the city. A space that once symbolized Japanese naval power became a place commemorating Korea’s own naval heritage.
Most of the cherry blossoms in Jinhae are mostly from Shomeiyoshino Japan.