21st Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival Opens... Proclaims Vision for '2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang'

Opens at Sangnim Park on the 7th for five days... Strengthens ties between the forest-grown ginseng industry and tourism
Opening ceremony to unveil vision for the Year of Visiting Hamyang and hold proclamation ceremony... Expands stay-oriented offerings

The 21st Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival, a signature event in Hamyang County, South Gyeongsang Province, opened on the 7th at Sangnim Park and its surrounding area, beginning a five-day run through the 11th.

This year's festival, under the slogan "Immerse Yourself in Wild Ginseng, Stay in Hamyang," features sales and hands-on activities centered on forest-grown ginseng, along with wellness, tourism, food and performances.

In particular, the festival is placing emphasis on presenting its vision and plans to attract tourists next year, holding a proclamation ceremony for the "2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang" alongside the opening ceremony.

[Photo provided by Choi Sun-gyeong] An official declared the festival officially open on the main stage as the 21st Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival kicked off on the 7th at Sangnim Park.

The opening event, held on the main stage this afternoon, will feature a themed performance combining large drums, contemporary dance and group dance, followed by the official opening ceremony at 7 p.m.

The opening ceremony will include the national ceremony, introductions of dignitaries, the opening declaration, opening remarks and congratulatory speeches. A video themed around the "2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang" will also be screened.

The county governor will then present the vision and plans for the year, followed by a proclamation ceremony attended by major guests. The ceremony will include the unveiling of a sculpture and the release of the "2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang" brand identity and welcome message. The opening event will conclude with a grand finale featuring celebratory fireworks and special effects.

Hamyang County plans to use the festival as an opportunity to encourage visitors not only to come to the festival grounds but also to visit local tourist attractions and extend their stays.

Promotional materials for major tourist attractions have been installed throughout the festival grounds. Visitors can also take part in a visit-verification event at key attractions, including Daebongsan Recreation Valley and "OrGO Hamyang."

This year, the festival has also changed how forest-grown ginseng is sold. Stores in the forest-grown ginseng sales zone are required to offer products priced at 50,000 won or less, expanding the range of relatively affordable options. A system has also been introduced to attach certification tags to ginseng that has undergone quality verification.

Thirty businesses and related organizations are participating in the forest-grown ginseng sales fair. Programs linking purchases to other activities include discount coupons, a stamp tour, free distributions of forest-grown ginseng, flowerpot making and cashback in local gift certificates based on purchase receipts.

The range of hands-on activities has also expanded. At Pilbongsan Forest, visitors can take part in "Find the Golden Ginseng," which incorporates storytelling, as well as a ginseng-digging experience. After learning about ginseng's characteristics and harvesting methods, participants dig up five-year-old ginseng in an actual ginseng field.

A wellness program linking ginseng's healthy image with tourism content has also been prepared. The Anti-Aging Pavilion will offer health assessments and wellness and relaxation experiences,

On the 10th, a barefoot-walking healing festival will be held around Sangnim Park. On the same day, a traditional wrestling program involving visitors will take place near Goun Square.

The festival grounds have also been redesigned to encourage visitors to stay longer. A new "Picnic Zone" has been created along the route from the Wild Ginseng Theme Pavilion to the Bullo Waterfall, with local bakeries and cafes, a rest area, a DJ booth and forest-grown ginseng auctions.

The 6,000-square-meter Family Zone around Yeonji Park will feature large shade canopies, a children's playground, sales and activity booths, and food trucks. Family-oriented programs will include busking, traditional folk games, character balloon giveaways, and hanji-book and sotdae-making activities.

Performances will continue throughout the festival. The "National Wild Ginseng Song Festival," open to anyone in South Korea, will be held on the 8th. On the evenings of the 9th and 10th, "Sanmak Night" will combine local specialties with performances. On the festival's final day, the 11th, "OrGO Hamyang Summiters' Day" and a touring performance by the Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Arts Troupe are scheduled.

The food pavilion, with seating for 500, will serve Korean, Western and Chinese dishes, including bibimbap, fish soup noodles, forest-grown ginseng samgyetang, black pork cutlets, jajangmyeon and jjamppong. The Eoullim Market Zone will host booths for handicrafts, food, activities, and promotions by organizations and groups.

A key feature of this year's festival is that sales and activities involving forest-grown ginseng, agricultural and specialty product sales, tourism promotions, family-oriented content and related events are all brought together in one place. The goal is to encourage visitors to stay longer and channel festival spending into local businesses and tourism.

The 21st Hamyang Wild Ginseng Festival will continue through the 11th at Sangnim Park and its surrounding area.

In particular, ahead of the "2027 Year of Visiting Hamyang," this year's festival focuses on connecting tourism, experiences and consumer spending around forest-grown ginseng.

How successfully the expanded offerings translate into longer visitor stays and a boost to the local economy will be a key measure of the festival's success.

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