[Field Report] "Soaking Up the Energy of Gold and Chrysanthemum Fragrance"... Hampyeong Chrysanthemum Festival Bustles on Opening Day

Golden Bat Statue Draws Crowds with Its Value Up Tenfold in 18 Years

Visitors Take Photos at the Hill of Myth, Hands of Love, and More

"A Trip Full of Attractions, from Chrysanthemums to the Golden Bat"

"So this is the 30-billion-won Golden Bat I saw on the news? It's so shiny that just looking at it makes me feel rich!"

Memory Workshop at Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong-gun, Jeonnam-Gwangju, on the morning of October 23.

On the opening day of the 2026 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival, visitors in their 50s and 60s crowded around the solid-gold Golden Bat statue, displayed inside a large, circular glass case.

Tourists are taking photos while admiring the Golden Bat Statue. Photo by Min Changi.

Having heard about the recent surge in gold prices, visitors exclaimed in amazement and clasped their hands to receive the "energy of gold." They took out their phones and asked one another to take photos, wishing each other good luck with remarks like, "Now that we've seen the Golden Bat, we'll have good fortune this year, too."

When it was made in 2008, the Golden Bat statue cost 2.7 billion won and used 162 kilograms of pure gold and 281 kilograms of silver. With international gold prices soaring recently, its current estimated value has reached around 29 billion to 30 billion won. For visitors, it has become the ultimate good-luck spot for attracting wealth.

As soon as the festival officially opened at 10 a.m., the Expo Park parking lot quickly filled with vehicles from across the country. Hundreds of visitors passed through the ticket gates and streamed into the festival grounds.

At the festival's central plaza, a mythical landscape created from chrysanthemums in every color unfolded before visitors. The flower-covered "Hill of Myth," the "Hands of Love" cradling a red heart, a giant mushroom-shaped chrysanthemum fountain sculpture, and a flower tunnel became packed photo spots.

Older visitors and families dressed in their finest outing clothes lined up shoulder to shoulder in front of flower towers, calling out, "One, two, three, say cheese!" as they snapped photos.

Visitors take commemorative photos at the 2026 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival, held on the morning of the 23rd at Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Min Changi.

Visitors also slowed down to admire the 366 premium bonsai trees and 1,800 bokjojak works, among more than 2,100 intricate pieces carefully arranged across five chrysanthemum bonsai exhibition halls. They were busy taking commemorative photos throughout the festival grounds.

Rest areas and activity booths set up along the festival's walking paths were also bustling. At the free tasting booth, visitors sipped warm chrysanthemum tea, surrounded by a delicate floral fragrance and gentle warmth. Local food booths showcasing Hampyeong's signature foods were lively with visitors resting their tired legs and sampling local specialties such as rice cakes, yogurt, honey, and health drinks.

Ms. Park, 62, who visited the festival with friends from Buk-gu, Jeonnam-Gwangju, said, "We set out early on the first morning, but I was still surprised by how many people were here. Seeing the chrysanthemums in full bloom was a feast for the eyes, and getting to see the Golden Bat in person after hearing about it and soak up its energy made this the most rejuvenating trip of the fall."

The 2026 Korea Chrysanthemum Festival opened on October 23 and will run for 17 days, through November 8, across the grounds of Hampyeong Expo Park.

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