A Mild Winter in Korea

The rivers have thawed and the first blossoms have broken through the snow, and Koreans are certainly happy that winter is coming to an end.  But I think that this was a pretty mild winter.

Compared to last year, there was little snow in Korea this winter.  The landscapes of the country, though mostly barren of snow, were dressed in rich evergreen tones and shades of earthy brown.

A park in GyeongJu, lightly dusted with snow.

A path on GeumJeong mountain, in Busan, in early January.

North-western Busan, as seen from GeumJeong mountain in January.

A leafless tree on GeumJeong mountain, with Busan in the distance.

Even in Gangwon, South Korea's northernmost province, snow was rare. But some of the mountain tops were snow-capped.

The eastern coast of Korea, in Gangwon province, in January.

A Gangwon beach with a light dusting of snow.

Snow-covered mountain peaks in Gangwon province.