224,000 Visitors in 12 Days: Hampyeong Butterfly Festival Concludes Successfully

Success Factors of Performances and Hands-on Programs

The 27th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival concluded its 12-day schedule from the 25th of last month to the 6th of this month. Provided by Hampyeong County

The 27th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival, one of South Korea's leading ecological festivals, successfully concluded its 12-day run from April 25 to May 6.

According to Hampyeong County on May 7, this year's festival attracted 224,098 visitors, a 20% increase compared to last year, and generated 849 million won in admission revenue.

Held under the theme "Butterflies Meet the Golden Bat," this year's Butterfly Festival was centered around the encounter of Hampyeong's two iconic ecological symbols: the butterfly and Hwangbaki (the golden bat).

Local residents participated in the sale of regional agricultural products, achieving sales of 298 million won, while convenience stores, experience booths, and other participating businesses recorded sales of 780 million won, invigorating both the local economy and tourism industry.

The festival's greatest success factors appear to be its offering of 200,000 butterflies from 17 species, including the Old World Swallowtail and Cabbage White, 500,000 flowers from 30 varieties such as marigolds, lupines, and poppies, as well as a wide range of performances and hands-on programs that delighted children and family visitors.

In particular, the newly introduced "Butterfly Feeding Experience" at the outdoor butterfly ecology center in the central plaza provided a unique opportunity to interact with live butterflies and became the most popular attraction.

Additionally, exclusive butterfly-themed content unique to Hampyeong, such as the "Indoor and Outdoor Butterfly Release Experience," the "Butterfly Fantasia Parade Show" which combined art performances with butterfly releases, "Butterfly and Hwangbaki Mask Making," and "Butterfly Costume Experience," greatly enhanced the festive atmosphere.

Furthermore, to promote Hampyeong's pristine natural environment, home to the globally endangered golden bat, the new character "Hwangbaki" was introduced for the first time this year. Hwangbaki was featured in pop-up stores, photo zones, hats, and mascot costumes, drawing attention alongside the golden bat sculpture, which has become a hot topic due to the rising price of gold.

Other popular attractions included traditional games that filled the central plaza, such as Dongsimjul-japgi (rope pulling), Gongginori (Konggi Nori), rolling hoops, and rubber shoe throwing, as well as the "Banana Harvest Experience" at the subtropical agriculture center and a variety of VR experiences utilizing virtual reality technology.

In addition, a wide array of cultural and performance programs, including congratulatory performances by guest singers, national busking, and a butterfly dance competition, provided plenty of entertainment for visitors.

Lee Sangik, Mayor of Hampyeong County, stated, "Through the symbolic character Hwangbaki, we created a festival that everyone could relate to and participate in," adding, "Next year, we will return with even richer and higher-quality content."