Imsil Cheese Theme Park, a Blooming Chrysanthemum Festival Filled with the Scent of Autumn

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Chrysanthemums, the heralds of autumn, are in full bloom across the vast grounds of Imsil Cheese Theme Park and Cheese Village, soothing the minds and bodies of visitors weary from COVID-19 and easing the disappointment of the festival's cancellation.

According to Imsil County, the '2020 Imsil N Cheese Festival,' which was scheduled to be held at Imsil Cheese Theme Park and Imsil Cheese Village from the 8th to the 11th, was canceled due to the impact of COVID-19.

Although this year's sixth Imsil N Cheese Festival was canceled, the county's Agricultural Technology Center and farmers, unable to discard the approximately 30,000 chrysanthemum pots carefully cultivated since spring for the festival, exhibited them across the 600,000-pyeong (approximately 1,983,471 square meters) area of Imsil Cheese Theme Park.

This was to repay the dedication of farmers who poured sweat and passion into chrysanthemum cultivation since early spring and to provide some consolation to the county residents and city dwellers exhausted by COVID-19 throughout the year.

Around the Chuseok holiday, the chrysanthemums began to bloom, and by October 9th, during the Hangul Day holiday, about 30,000 pots were in full bloom, offering visitors to Imsil Cheese Theme Park a beautiful chrysanthemum spectacle and the scent of autumn.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, temporary quarantine stations were installed at the four entrances, requiring visitors to undergo temperature checks, fill out visitor logs, and wear entry permission bands to gain access, ensuring thorough quarantine measures.

Additionally, the county prohibited the installation of general food booths except for restaurants, cheese shops, and Korean beef sales within Imsil Cheese Theme Park, and is paying special attention to parking lot traffic order and safety.

Since the area around Imsil Cheese Theme Park is very spacious and the Imsil Cheese Village area also has not only chrysanthemums but also Korean asters in bloom, social distancing among visitors is naturally maintained.

Visitors are actively cooperating with quarantine measures such as wearing entry permission bands, and many, especially family groups, are taking extra care with personal hygiene by preparing their own packed meals.

Yoo Seon-ah (38, Jungwasan-dong, Jeonju), who visited Imsil Cheese Theme Park with her children, said, “When I came last year during the festival, the chrysanthemums were so beautiful, and there were many foods and attractions, so I really enjoyed it. I’m very disappointed that the festival was canceled this year. However, the chrysanthemums are blooming beautifully, and the scent is nice, so I enjoyed walking with my children who were feeling frustrated due to COVID-19.”

County Governor Shim Min said, “Although the festival was canceled, we could not discard the chrysanthemums that the Agricultural Technology Center and farmers had diligently cultivated since spring, so we decided to exhibit them. The visitors’ responses have been positive, and it seems to provide great comfort in these frustrating times. I thank everyone who worked hard on chrysanthemum cultivation, and we will do our utmost to ensure COVID-19 prevention so that visitors can rest safely.”