Gwangyang Wellness Farm Festival Successfully Concluded

"Rural Areas Providing Healthy and Happy Lives" Theme

Held on July 1st by the Seocheon Riverside in Gwangyang-eup

Gwangyang City in Jeonnam announced on the 1st that the "Gwangyang Embracing the Sun! 3rd Gwangyang Wellness Farm Festival" was successfully held at Seocheon Riverside in Gwangyang-eup with the participation of about 500 citizens.

Originally scheduled to be held over two days, the event was operated only on July 1 due to rain.

[Photo by Gwangyang City]

This Wellness Farm Festival, themed "A Rural Area That Gives a Healthy and Happy Life," featured various experiences such as rural culture, woodworking workshops, and making everyday items, along with promotional events for Gwangyang rice, nostalgic treasure hunts, Gwangyang Love O/X quizzes, drawing competitions, and three-line poem contests. Cultural performances including invited local artists from Gwangyang and busking performances were also held.

In particular, the Gwangyang rice promotional event, nostalgic treasure hunt, Gwangyang Love O/X quiz, and woodworking experience received high acclaim.

Additionally, a direct transaction market was operated, allowing citizens to meet various agricultural and specialty products produced and processed by local farmers. A discount event was also promoted, enabling the purchase of high-quality agricultural and specialty products at affordable prices, which served as a good opportunity to enhance trust between producers and consumers.

A citizen who participated in the festival said, "I am very satisfied with receiving prizes by participating in the events and purchasing high-quality agricultural and specialty products at low prices. I hope such festivals are held frequently."

Im Okcheon, the head of the project team and representative of Gwangyang Bread, who organized the festival, said, "Seeing many citizens come to the 3rd Gwangyang Wellness Farm Festival to enjoy various experiences and events and purchase agricultural and specialty products makes me feel the worth of holding the festival."

Park Soon-gi, head of the Agricultural Food Distribution Division, said, "Despite shortening the festival from two days to one due to rain, we are pleased that many citizens participated and the event was successfully conducted," adding, "We will continue to frequently operate festivals and direct transaction markets where producers and consumers can meet directly."

Based on this festival, Gwangyang City plans to systematically promote the convergence and complexification of rural industries, expanding support so that agriculture can grow into the 6th industry (production + processing + tourism), and will work on establishing a production & consumption system that connects producers and consumers.

Furthermore, the Gwangyang Wellness Farm Festival is scheduled to be held again in 2024, organized by the Rural Convergence Industry Network Construction Project Team.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr