Half Water, Half Fish... Yeongdeok Golden Euneo Festival Held at Osipcheon Riverside

August 2-4, Whisper of Nature... Captured in Golden Sweetfish

One of the representative festivals of Yeongdeok-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, the '2024 Yeongdeok Hwanggeumeuneo Festival' will be held for three days from August 2 to 4, organized by Yeongdeok-gun and hosted by the Yeongdeok Hwanggeumeuneo Festival Promotion Committee, at the Osipcheon riverside area in Yeongdeok-eup.

The 2024 Yeongdeok Golden Sweetfish Festival will be held on the Osipcheon Riverside.

The 'Hwanggeumeuneo', a specialty product representing Yeongdeok, has long been called the 'gentleman of the water' and the 'noble of clear streams'. It was a delicacy enjoyed by high officials as a tribute to the royal court during the Silla and Goryeo dynasties, and was treated even more preciously during the Joseon dynasty, being presented to the king. Especially, Yeongdeok's Hwanggeumeuneo is distinguished from those of other regions by its deep golden band under the gills and its subtle watermelon scent.

As demand for wellness tourism increases, the festival theme was set as “Nature’s Whisper to Soothe the Mind, Embraced by Yeongdeok Hwanggeumeuneo,” with the hope that visitors will enjoy the beautiful nature of Yeongdeok’s Osipcheon River, play freely, and heal the stress of modern life.

As for hands-on events, the festival’s signature program, the Hwanggeumeuneo Bandu Fishing Experience, will be held eight times over three days at the Bandu Fishing Experience Center. A large quantity of Hwanggeumeuneo will be supplied so that participants can easily enjoy the thrill of catching fish, and on-the-spot events for tourists will be held during the experience, offering various prizes to participants.

Additionally, a separate fishing experience area for children will be set up near the Bandu Fishing Experience Center, operating seven free sessions over three days, providing special memories for children who may find it difficult to catch Hwanggeumeuneo with a bandu net.

Within the family water play area, various water play equipment such as water seesaws, air bounces, and water slides will be available, offering a range of water activities for visitors. The newly introduced water gun survival game and other diverse programs are expected to be especially popular with family visitors.

For performances, themed busking shows such as magic, juggling, and bands will be held continuously throughout the festival. In the evenings, there will be local club gatherings, singing contests, and celebratory performances, creating a space for both residents and tourists to come together and enjoy the festivities.

County Governor Kim Kwangyeol said, “As everyday stress becomes more intense, it is important to relieve it in a healthy way. I hope that through the various hands-on and performance programs at this festival, you can heal your tired body and mind in the clean and refreshing waters of Osipcheon.”