Praised for Food and Entertainment Offerings
Imsil County, North Jeolla Province, successfully concluded the Imsil N Pet Star event, held alongside the Osu Opinion Culture Festival, over three days from the 3rd to the 5th.
According to the county on the 7th, a provisional tally shows that approximately 82,000 people visited the "40th Osu Opinion Culture Festival and 2025 Imsil N Pet Star," a pet culture festival.
Imsil County successfully concluded the Imsil N Pet Star event held alongside the Osu Opinion Culture Festival over three days from the 3rd to the 5th. Photo by Imsil County
Except for the second day, both the first and third days saw large crowds of pet owners and their pets from all over the country, filling the festival grounds to the extent that it truly felt like "half dogs, half people," despite the inclement weather.
This year's festival was highly praised for its innovative and fresh programs centered on dogs, including a pet sports day where pet owners and their dogs could participate together, agility competitions, pet shows, walking trails, a pet products expo, engaging talk shows, and an entertaining pet fashion show. Students from pet-related departments at 12 universities nationwide also took part, demonstrating the stature of a top-tier domestic pet festival.
In addition, the local food hall, filled with Imsil Hanwoo beef and a variety of foods, Imsil cheese pizza, dairy products, and food trucks, greatly enhanced visitor satisfaction with a rich selection of culinary offerings.
The record number of visitors also led to a significant increase in sales of cheese and other products compared to the previous year. Sales of cheese and other dairy products reached 71.5 million won, nearly double last year's total sales of 38 million won, and sales at booths such as the Hanwoo Premium Pavilion also increased. Notably, 26 contracts were signed at the pet products expo during the festival period.
In particular, the participation of professors and students from pet-related departments at 12 universities nationwide, as well as health checkups provided by students from Chonbuk National University's College of Veterinary Medicine, played a major role in the festival's success. Throughout the festival, participants engaged in pet grooming, pet product showcases, pet health care, various pet consultations, and the pet fashion show, enriching the meaning and value of the festival while adding excitement and fun.
Additionally, this year featured an even more diverse program lineup, including a pet talk show with Professor Lee Woongjong, trainer Kang Hyungwook, and veterinarian Seol Chaehyun, a pet sports day, special dog demonstration training, hands-on activities with pet-related students from across the country, the Imsil Pet Industry Expo, and the "Let's Walk the Flower Road Together in Imsil" pet education program.
At the opening ceremony, the handlers of therapy assistance dogs "Apo" and "Geumdong" received the Righteous Pet Contribution Award, adding a touching moment to the festival. These dogs were recognized for their ongoing contributions to animal-assisted therapy at facilities such as the Dementia Care Center, Maumsarang Hospital, and the Youth Training Center, and received the county's gratitude for their service.
On the second day, under clear skies, the fourth annual National Pet Fashion Show showcased even more creative fashion concepts and well-crafted stories, with pets and their families presenting unique and harmonious appearances.
The 13th Choi Gap Seok Song Festival, which enlivened the festival nights, featured ten teams that advanced through the preliminaries and was held with great enthusiasm from the audience.
On the final day, which also coincided with Children's Day on the 5th, a cheerful sports day for families and their pets, the "Myeongnyang Pet Consultation Center," and a performance by the "Dream Orchestra" composed of Imsil County youth, brought the festival to a grand finale.
County Governor Shim Min said, "I am grateful to everyone who visited and contributed to the great success of this festival, which brought together more than 80,000 pet owners and pets?a record number. Going forward, we will continue to develop Osu in Imsil County, with its legends of Osu Opinion, not only as a hub for the pet industry but also as the center of pet culture and the mecca of pet ownership in Korea."
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