Over 1,400 Visitors Flock on Opening Morning
Traditional Games and Nature Ecology Center Popular with All Ages
The "26 Billion Won" Golden Bat Statue: Wishing and Photo Moments
On the morning of the 25th, on the opening day of the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival, a child wearing a butterfly costume is fluttering wings at the Jeonnam Hampyeong Expo Park. Photo by Min Chanki
"We came to Hampyeong to enjoy the festival and see the Golden Bat Statue."
On the morning of the 25th, the opening day of the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival, Jeonnam Hampyeong Expo Park was bustling with visitors eager to enjoy the festival, with long lines forming at the ticket booths. As soon as visitors entered the park, they gathered in the plaza to enjoy traditional games such as top-spinning, ring toss, and jegi-chagi. People of all ages were enjoying the festivities together.
In one area, a daycare teacher was explaining the rules of the games to children, while a man in his forties rolled a hoop with a big smile, reminiscing about old memories.
Various experience booths, including butterfly costume try-ons, butterfly accessory making, and Hwangbaki (Golden Bat) hat making, attracted the attention of tourists. One child, dressed in an outfit with butterfly wings, fluttered around like a butterfly, while another man, after making a Hwangbaki hat, took a commemorative photo, saying, "It's easier than I thought."
On the morning of the 25th, visitors are taking commemorative photos in front of the Golden Bat Statue located at the Memory Workshop in Jeonnam Hampyeong Expo Park on the opening day of the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival. Photo by Min Chanki
The most popular spot at the festival that day was the Golden Bat Statue located inside the Memory Workshop. The Golden Bat Statue was created in 2008 using 162 kilograms of pure gold and 281 kilograms of silver, with a production cost of 2.7 billion won at the time. However, with the recent rise in gold prices, its current value is estimated at about 26 billion won.
As soon as visitors saw the Golden Bat Statue, they exclaimed, "Wow, that's the famous Golden Bat Statue!" Many took photos for social media or made wishes. Thanks in part to the Golden Bat Statue, about 1,400 people visited the festival by late morning on the opening day.
The "Golden Bat Obokporan," located in the same exhibition space as the Golden Bat Statue, was also extremely popular. The Obokporan, a round egg-shaped object adorned with jewels, symbolizes the origin of life, light, and hope. Notably, visitors could touch the Obokporan themselves, and many reached inside to gently stroke it while making wishes such as "Please let me succeed in my investments," or "Please keep everyone healthy this year."
At the Nature Ecology Center, located right next to the Memory Workshop, visitors could see 200,000 butterflies. Inside the experience center, tens of thousands of butterflies fluttered among the flowers. Children matched the names of butterflies and flowers as they walked through, and observed larvae of rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles, bringing them closer to nature.
Kim Youngseok (47), who came from Gwangju, said, "The Golden Bat Statue became famous as the price of gold went up, and I came on the opening day to enjoy the festival with my children. Since bats are said to symbolize good fortune, I made a wish for my whole family to do well."
Yang Mo (56), who visited with old classmates, said, "I came because I heard the Golden Bat Statue is famous, and I was pleased to find so many things to see. There were plenty of hands-on activities and spaces to relax, so we could enjoy the festival at a leisurely pace."
Meanwhile, the 27th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival will be held at Hampyeong Expo Park until May 6. At the festival, visitors can see 200,000 butterflies from 17 species, including the swallowtail, as well as 500,000 spring flowers in bloom.
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