South Korea Cherry Blossom Festival Marred by Deaths

DAEJON, South Korea—South Koreans are celebrating the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the arrival of spring. But at one celebration, the joy is mingled with sadness and resentment over the sinking of a South Korean warship in the sea near North Korea.

Gayangdong is a working class neighborhood on the edge of Daejeon. Each spring the residents and local council of Gayangdong hold the annual Cherry Blossom Festival. The road is blocked, a stage constructed, and local restaurants set up outdoor eateries in tents.

This year, organizers canceled one of the most popular events, the annual singing competition, out of respect for the 46 sailors that died aboard the South Korean navy ship, the Cheonan.

“Most people are sad about the ship sinking,” said Mr Hong, a public servant in Daejeon. “Some people are very angry about it because most people know that it was caused by a North Korean attack.”

The Cheonan broke in half and sank mysteriously in disputed waters near North Korea, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard.