The 21st Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival, South Korea's premier Hanwoo beef festival, concluded successfully after a five-day run from October 22 to October 26.
Held under the slogan "Elegant Rest with Hanwoo" and themed "Chowon Wudam: The Story of Hanwoo Raised in Hoengseong's Pristine Nature," this year's festival established itself as a comprehensive cultural event that appeals to all generations and tastes. It featured a total of 15 programs across three areas: food, culture & arts, and hands-on experiences.
This year's festival, in particular, maintained the traditional identity of the Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival while adding a contemporary touch by incorporating the latest trends. Signature programs that received enthusiastic responses included the Drone Art Show, which combined 300 drones with media art; the Seomgang Fantasia Light Show, utilizing the riverside nightscape of Seomgang; the Hanwoori Folk Village, featuring actor NPCs; and the Hanwoori Pop-up Store, which showcased renewed character designs. The festival also expanded rest areas and signage, and increased family- and child-friendly spaces, operating as a "universal festival" that everyone could enjoy, regardless of generation, background, or disability.
Visitors to the festival expressed their satisfaction through social media and online communities, sharing positive feedback such as, "Hanwoo is best in Hoengseong," "It was so convenient to walk around with a stroller," "I thought the Hanwoo Festival would be mostly for adults eating meat, but there were so many thoughtful touches for families and children," "Year after year, the Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival is always the most fulfilling," and "Hoengseong does such a great job."
Despite opening on a weekday, this year's Hoengseong Hanwoo Festival drew crowds of 150,000 during the weekdays, and over 300,000 visitors in total throughout the festival period. The festival grounds-including the Hanwoo barbecue area, sales booths, local specialty booths, and F&B zones-generated a direct economic impact estimated at around 3.6 billion won, while the indirect economic effect across Hoengseong County is estimated to exceed 20 billion won.
The festival also received high marks for its safety management. More than 200 people from the foundation, county, police, fire department, and volunteer organizations were mobilized to ensure comprehensive safety measures, and the event concluded without any major incidents, aside from minor accidents.
Lee Jaesung, CEO of the Hoengseong Culture and Tourism Foundation, stated, "It was very meaningful to have a festival where people of all generations could come together to enjoy Hanwoo raised in pristine nature," adding, "Building on this year's success, we will return next year with an even more innovative festival."
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