The 27th Butterfly Festival in Hampyeong County, Jeonnam, attracted more than 61,000 tourists nationwide in its first week. Photo by Hampyeong County, Jeonnam
The 27th Butterfly Festival in Hampyeong County, Jeonnam, once again proved its status as one of South Korea's leading spring festivals, attracting more than 61,000 tourists from across the country in its first week alone.
According to Hampyeong County on April 29, this year's festival, held under the theme "Butterflies Meet the Golden Bat," showcased even richer ecological experiences and creative content centered around Hampyeong's two iconic species. The festival further elevated its prestige as an honorary cultural tourism festival designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
At the "Gate of Butterflies" Plaza in Hampyeong Expo Park, the "Sky Barley Garden" has been created, featuring a green barley field, clover, and various sculptures. At the "Gate of Bulls," the festival mascots Ppombi (the show-off butterfly) and Hwangbaki (the golden bat) welcome visitors. Throughout the festival grounds, a variety of exhibition halls, hands-on experiences, and performance programs are drawing great interest from attendees.
In the Central Plaza, visitors can enjoy unique experiences such as "feeding butterflies" and "releasing butterflies," where they can directly feed live butterflies and set them free into the sky.
Additionally, at the Butterfly and Insect Ecology Pavilion, under the sub-theme "A Springtime Fairy Tale Told by Butterflies," visitors can encounter 200,000 butterflies from 17 different species and participate in the "Indoor Butterfly Release with Family" experience, which has been met with an enthusiastic response from tourists.
In particular, the "Butterfly Fantasia Parade Show," which can only be seen in Hampyeong, features a parade car carrying the Butterfly Goddess as it departs from the Gate of Butterflies. Accompanied by Hwangbaki, butterfly and insect mascot characters, butterfly fairies, and mirror men, the parade marches to the Central Plaza in lively rhythm, delivering a spectacular performance that excites the crowd.
Other programs include the "Hwangbaki Hat-Making Experience," "Traditional Folk Games Experience" (such as Jegichagi, Tuho, and rolling hoops), as well as activities in the ecological wetland like "catching fish," "catching freshwater shrimp," "bicycling," and "doing nothing," offering a wide range of family-friendly options.
The festival, filled with the scents of spring, is also bringing a positive impact to the local economy. Traditional markets, restaurants, and accommodations are bustling with activity, and booths selling local agricultural and specialty products are seeing a steady stream of visitors.
County Governor Lee Sangik said, "The Butterfly Fantasia Parade Show, along with various hands-on programs and the golden holiday period including Children's Day on May 5, is further heightening the festival's excitement. We will do our utmost to ensure that the festival remains safe and enjoyable for everyone until the very end."
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