Camellias bloom across Korea from December into March, painting many coastal and island spots red. Jeju is famous for large camellia (dongbaek) groves — Namwon’s Sinheung 2-ri ‘Camellia Village’ has around 20,000 trees and was named a UNWTO Best Tourism Village in 2023, offering camellia oil-themed experiences. Nearby Wimi-ri ‘Wimi 3760’ is a popular SNS-backed photo spot framed by Jeju’s basalt walls. Camellia Hill (Camellia Hill) in Seogwipo hosts about 6,000 trees of 500 varieties, with colors from deep red to pink and white and notable large and fragrant cultivars (paid entry). In Busan, Haeundae’s Dongbaek Island provides coastal views with peak bloom around mid-January. Gwangyang’s Okryongsaji camellia forest, a Natural Monument, contains some 10,000 trees thought to have been planted centuries ago and blooms into March. Yeosu’s Odongdo island has over 3,000 camellias and a 768 m bridge; in February–March the island becomes a red tunnel of flowers along cliffs. These spots are popular for “insta-worthy” photos and seasonal walks.
