Ambassadors from 7 Countries Including Greece and FKI Show Deep Interest
Gun Admits Lack of Souvenirs Beyond Local Specialties and Insufficient Accommodation Facilities
Visitors exploring around Sotbawi Rock in Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam. [Image source provided by Uiryeong-gun Office]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Wook] Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam, ambitiously hosted the ‘Uiryeong Rich Rich (Buja) Festival,’ which attracted a record-breaking crowd of over 100,000 visitors, showing potential to establish itself as a representative festival of South Korea and successfully concluded. Just before the festival, vice chairmen of the Federation of Korean Industries and delegations including ambassadors from seven countries residing in Korea visited the birthplace of the late Chairman Lee Byung-chul, drawing both domestic and international attention.
According to Uiryeong-gun on the 9th, while introducing the successful conclusion of the ‘Rich Rich Festival,’ the organizers acknowledged shortcomings and expressed apologies to visitors, promising to make improvements in the future, which once again drew attention.
The ‘positive influence’ of this festival, held for three days from the 28th to the 30th of last month around Sotbawi in Uiryeong-gun, was evident throughout the county. Uiryeong-gun prepared warm hospitality, and tourists prayed for ‘everyone’s well-being’ by hanging and floating wish leaves.
The county stated, “From several hours before the festival started, an unprecedentedly huge crowd gathered, leaving no room to step,” and estimated that more than 100,000 people visited over the three days.
Notably, the current Governor Park Wan-su and his spouse attended the festival opening ceremony held in Uiryeong for the first time, attracting attention as they mingled with attendees.
Governor Park said, “The Rich Rich Festival is a festival that only qualified Uiryeong can hold,” adding, “The entrepreneurial spirit that started at Sotbawi is a pride of Gyeongnam.” He drew attention by wishing the residents the so-called ‘three riches’: ‘material wealth’ for regional development, ‘spiritual wealth’ for living with a happy heart, and ‘health wealth’ for wishing good health.
Gyeongnam Governor Park Wan-su attended the opening ceremony with Uiryeong County Governor Oh Tae-wan and performed a gesture wishing for the successful hosting of the event. [Image source=Facebook capture]
Following a pre-performance by local elementary school students, the festival atmosphere reached its peak with the ‘Rich Multi Show,’ which conveyed a special message unique to the Rich Rich Festival. The ‘Rich Classic Concert,’ featuring Korea’s top orchestra, captivated the audience’s ears with sweet melodies on the deepening autumn night.
Jeon Gyeong-jin, who heard about the festival and returned to his hometown after a long time, said, “Unimaginable things happened in Uiryeong,” adding, “I was first surprised by the number of visitors, then twice amazed by the outdoor orchestra performance. I am also very grateful for the organizers’ thoughtful care in distributing blankets and hot packs,” sharing his impressions on-site.
During the festival period, Uiryeong-gun transformed into a ‘young city.’ Wherever you went at the venue, it was overflowing with children and students. Experience events that attracted families and young tourists often had lines stretching several meters. Activities like praying while bee-mimicking, wish meditation & yoga were fully booked early, and the on-site registration for the Kizania job experience education was so popular that each session was packed with applicants. Especially, the ‘Sea of Light’ sculpture, where visitors could admire the vigorous and beautiful swimming of humpback whales and sardine schools, was crowded with people wanting to take special family photos.
Rich Sister Park Se-ri’s Talk Talk and bestselling author Jacheong’s talk concert also contributed to the popularity. News of lectures by renowned figures attracted visitors from distant places such as Busan and Daegu.
Former Chairman Lee Byung-chul's birthplace visited by FKI officials and delegations of ambassadors from seven countries in Korea. [Image source: Provided by Uiryeong County Office]
The ‘Youth Challenge, Meeting with Celebrities’ featuring those who reached the pinnacle as ‘successful rich people’ in their fields saw a flood of inquiries even before the festival. The fact that several lecturers came from the U.S. to meet young people in Uiryeong itself was big news. Festival director Ryu Jae-hyun proposed discussing ‘survival’ and ‘hope’ in a city facing population extinction, and the lecturers readily agreed, making this talk concert possible. They warmly comforted struggling youth and delivered messages of dreams and courage to young people dreaming of a ‘life turning point.’
True to the ‘Rich Festival’ theme, the determination to explore the possibility of locals becoming wealthy also succeeded. With the massive crowds at the festival, Uiryeong agricultural products sold like hotcakes at the specialty product sales booths, and the food market and local restaurants quickly ran out of Uiryeong’s representative dishes such as beef soup, Gare bulgogi, and Manggae rice cake. Nearby restaurants, coffee shops, and other businesses were so crowded that there were no empty seats, fully realizing the festival’s purpose of revitalizing the local economy.
Many also visited the birthplace tours. The ‘Smile’ sculpture featuring Chairman Lee Byung-chul’s famous quote, “Smile even when it’s hard; the Almighty likes those who smile,” installed by calligraphy artist Kang Byung-in in front of Hoam Lee Byung-chul’s birthplace, sparked explosive reactions on social media. The Lee Jong-hwan birthplace, opened for the first time in three years, offered tourists a beautiful view of Gwanjeongheon, a reproduction of Buyongjeong, which they admired.
The biggest highlight of this festival was undoubtedly ‘Sotbawi.’ The ‘legend turned reality’ Sotbawi emitted tremendous presence throughout the festival. About 30,000 people visited Sotbawi alone.
On the other hand, there were also criticisms. Tourists unanimously said there was a severe shortage of accommodation facilities for extended stays, and restaurants closed early, making long trips impossible. They also expressed regret that there were no small souvenirs to take home besides specialty products.
County Governor Oh Tae-wan said, “We gained confidence that ‘we can do it.’” Although Uiryeong-gun is a small population city facing extinction, the ‘success DNA’ was implanted through this festival, showing that if the residents unite their strength, they can achieve it. Governor Oh said, “The festival concluded safely without a single minor accident. There is a good energy in Uiryeong that gives hope to the residents.”
Especially after recently experiencing the ‘Itaewon tragedy,’ tourists met at the festival all said in unison, “Comfort is happiness, and health is wealth.” A couple in their 50s who came to Sotbawi from Busan said, “We came here hoping for our children’s studies and company promotions to go higher, but after seeing this accident, it makes us think about many things,” adding, “It seems that everyone’s only wish is for safety and family health.”
Uiryeong-gun plans to hold a festival evaluation meeting to review the festival’s achievements and tasks.
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