The health festival "2025 Gyeongbuk Yeongju Punggi Ginseng Festival" has kicked off together with the "Yeongju Market Day Agricultural Specialty Festival," coloring Yeongju's autumn with health and abundance.
This year's festival is being held over nine days, from October 18 to 26, at various locations including the Namwoncheon area in Punggi-eup, the Ginseng Culture Popup Park, and the lawn plaza at Buseoksa Temple.
On the opening day, a series of traditional events took place, such as the Gae Samteo ritual, a reenactment of Governor Jusebung's Punggi parade, and the Ginseng Grand Ritual, all of which highlighted Punggi's identity as the home of ginseng and its historical significance. Throughout the festival grounds, hands-on experiences, performances, and ginseng-based food programs added to the excitement from the very beginning.
This year, the festival is being held in conjunction with the "Yeongju Market Day Agricultural Specialty Festival," allowing visitors to experience not only Punggi ginseng but also a wide range of agricultural specialties representing Yeongju all in one place. With both festivals taking place simultaneously, visitors are enjoying the unique fun of experiencing two festivals at once.
At the Namwoncheon riverside, visitor participation programs are held daily, including making ginseng liquor, searching for golden ginseng, and pounding ginseng rice cakes. Local specialties such as red ginseng tea brewed with Punggi ginseng and Yeongju Korean beef are also proving popular.
The opening ceremony was further enlivened by congratulatory performances from singers Ahn Seonghun, Yoon Taehwa, and Park Guyoon, who heightened the festive atmosphere.
During the festival, a variety of performances across different genres are being held, such as the Dendong Eomee Hwajeon Nori, youth cultural performances, the National Powerful Dance Festival, and the Sobaeksan Yeongju Punggi Ginseng Song Festival, making it an "open festival" that everyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy.
At the concurrently held "Yeongju Market Day Agricultural Specialty Festival," local farmers are selling fresh agricultural products they have grown themselves at the "Farm Farm Sales Booth" and promoting them at the "Agricultural Specialty Promotion Center." On-site events such as real-time promotional videos, lively interviews, and lucky bag giveaways are also adding to the excitement.
At the Buseoksa Temple lawn plaza, a variety of local specialties, including Buseok apples, are being sold, and visitor participation events are being held, attracting a steady stream of visitors every day.
Yu Jeonggeun, acting mayor of Yeongju, said, "We will promote the excellence of Punggi ginseng and Yeongju's agricultural specialties both domestically and internationally, and further develop this festival to enhance Yeongju's health and cultural brand value. I hope this festival becomes an event where citizens and tourists can come together and enjoy themselves."
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