The Korea National Chrysanthemum Exhibition Attracts Over 170,000 Visitors, Successfully Concludes

Agricultural and Specialty Product Markets Boost Festival Vitality with Diverse Experience Programs

The representative autumn festival of Jeollanam-do, "2023 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival," held under the theme "A Happy Journey for Me in Hampyeong Chrysanthemum," successfully concluded after a 17-day grand event.

Hampyeong-gun, Jeonnam, announced on the 6th that the "2023 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival," which opened on the 20th of last month, ended on the 5th with a closing ceremony amid favorable reviews from visitors.

This year's Chrysanthemum Festival attracted over 170,000 visitors, generating ticket sales revenue of 630 million KRW.

The sales venues for Hampyeong's clean agricultural and specialty products, restaurants, and convenience stores, directly participated in by local residents, energized the festival site, achieving sales of approximately 880 million KRW.

Moreover, many tourists visited the natural ecological park, amphibian and reptile ecological park, and downtown shops outside the festival site, invigorating the local economy during the festival period.

At this festival, 74 chrysanthemum sculptures were beautifully created using Hampyeong's excellent cultivation techniques.

Unique performances such as flash mobs with residents, the Youth Fringe Festival, poetry recitations, and the original play "Osanggojeolieora," which expresses stories of Hampyeong, welcomed visitors.

Additionally, the festival site captivated visitors of all ages with distinctive experiences such as chrysanthemum tea tasting, leaf music performances, freshwater shrimp catching, the Korea Chrysanthemum Festival mobile stamp tour, and VR experience zones.

At the central plaza, a magical castle displayed an exotic appearance, and the chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition hall showcased 180 Hampyeong premium chrysanthemum bonsai pieces in 14 different shapes.

Furthermore, the county operated traditional game experiences, chrysanthemum Makgeolli and handkerchief making, and Indian tent and hammock rest areas in the wetland park covered with pink muhly and golden silver grass, providing a nature-friendly resting place.

Especially, every Saturday evening during the festival, 700 drones equipped with the latest lighting equipment flew across the night sky of the festival site, expressing Hampyeong gift boxes, colorful chrysanthemums, spider lilies, eels, and the sunset at Dolmeori Beach, offering visitors a romantic autumn night in Hampyeong.

Also, at the closing ceremony marking the end of the festival, a love donation parade filled with affection for Hampyeong continued.

Lee Sun-young, CEO of Ara Experience, who participated in the face painting program, donated 1 million KRW to the talent development fund; Lee Soon, CEO of the world restaurant Blue Five Ocean, donated 3 million KRW to the hometown love donation fund; and Jeong Seong-hoon, who loves Hampyeong and considers it his second hometown, donated 5 million KRW to the hometown love donation fund.

In addition, Lee Sang-ik, the county governor, presented plaques of appreciation to nine organizations, including the Hampyeong-gun Women's Volunteer Association, which volunteers their best efforts every year for the festival, expressing gratitude.

Governor Lee Sang-ik said, "I deeply thank everyone who visited the 2023 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival and all the residents, volunteers, and public officials who devoted themselves to the festival," adding, "Next spring, we will present the Butterfly Festival with a more distinctive and developed appearance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.