Gang Jin-won, Gangjin County Governor, Launches Heated Promotion as Professional Baseball First Pitcher

HaMac Festival and Half-Price Gangjin Travel Unique Promotion Draws Attention

County Officials Sweat in Heatwave, Actively Selling to Reach 'Even One More Person'

Kang Jin-won, the governor of Gangjin County, threw the ceremonial first pitch at the professional baseball game between the Kia Tigers and Doosan Bears held at Gwangju Kia Champions Field on the 1st. This first pitch attracted attention as the local government head personally participated to promote the 2nd Gangjin Hamak Festival and the 2024 Half-Price Gangjin Travel campaign.

Governor Kang Jin-won, who took the mound as the ceremonial pitcher, threw the ball vigorously with the hope for the successful hosting of the Gangjin Hamak Festival and for many tourists to visit through the half-price Gangjin travel program. Applause and cheers erupted from the stands.

According to Gangjin County on the 2nd, about 200 public officials, including Chairman Seo Soon-seon of the Gangjin County Council and Governor Kang, participated at the stadium, distributing promotional materials about the Hamak Festival and half-price Gangjin travel to baseball fans visiting the stadium, and handing out rice produced in clean Gangjin, working hard to promote Gangjin despite the heat.

County Governor Kang Jin-won is pitching at Gwangju Kia Champions Field to promote the Hamak Festival and the "Anyone Half-Price Gangjin Travel" campaign.
[Photo by Gangjin County]

The game was sold out, with over 20,000 baseball fans passionately cheering. Gangjin county officials arrived three hours before the game started and dispersed to five entrances, actively promoting Gangjin by handing out Hamak Festival leaflets and half-price tourism fans.

The county officials prepared 2,000 leaflets, 3,000 fans, banners, placards, hand signs, and boards in advance to maximize promotional effects. At the promotional booth set up at the main entrance, they handed out Gangjin rice to baseball fans from all over the country and explained the half-price benefits, focusing on attracting customers.

Especially, as the game began, Governor Kang Jin-won and MZ generation public officials cheered for the home team as one and intermittently carried out Gangjin promotional slogans and events.

Even with their clothes soaked in sweat from the heatwave, the county officials stayed until the end of the game, doing their utmost with the determination to let even one more person know about Gangjin.

The Hamak Festival, held at Gangjin Sports Complex from the 29th to the 31st, is a midsummer night healing festival where you can enjoy unlimited beer and performances by famous singers for just 10,000 won, boasting a spectacular lineup. On the 29th, QWER and Norazo will perform; on the 30th, Ailee and NewJeans; and on the final day, the 31st, the Yoon Do-hyun Band will heat up the festival grounds.

County Governor Kang Jin-won and public officials belonging to Gangjin County are shouting slogans to promote the Half-Price Gangjin Travel and Gangjin Ha-Maek Festival from the stands.
[Photo by Gangjin County]

The Half-Price＋ Gangjin Travel campaign, running until the end of the year, is a groundbreaking travel product unique to Gangjin that allows individuals, friends, couples, or families traveling to Gangjin to receive up to 200,000 won back, covering half of their travel expenses, attracting nationwide attention.

To participate in the half-price travel, travelers must apply in advance on the Gangjin Half-Price website on the day of their trip and can get immediate approval with just one ID submission. After the trip, by submitting a certified photo of visiting at least one tourist spot and a receipt showing spending of 50,000 won or more, travelers can apply for settlement and receive the half-price refund on the same day.

Governor Kang Jin-won said, “I hope you come to Gangjin, which boasts various festivals and beautiful natural environments, and create joyful memories this summer,” adding, “Enjoy a cool and worry-free vacation in Gangjin with the benefits of the ‘Half-Price Gangjin Travel for Anyone’ program, which supports half of your travel expenses up to 200,000 won.”

Gangjin County has promoted various festivals and county policies through professional baseball ceremonial first pitches for the fourth time this year.