44th Geumsan World Ginseng Festival draws 530,000 over opening holiday
In short
About 530,000 people visited the Geumsan World Ginseng Festival in South Korea's South Chungcheong region during the four-day opening holiday from 2 to 5 October, the Geumsan county government said. The 44th edition of the festival runs until 11 October under the theme “Always, Youth” at the Geumsan World Ginseng Expo Plaza and Ginseng Herb Street, with ginseng-digging experiences, red ginseng foot baths, a new K-Insam beauty hall and food stalls.
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About 530,000 people visited the Geumsan World Ginseng Festival during the four-day opening holiday from 2 to 5 October, the Geumsan county government announced on 6 October, according to Yonhap. The figure was reported in brief items by Kukmin Ilbo and Newsis, which described the same four-day attendance total. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The festival, now in its 44th edition, is held under the theme “Always, Youth” (언제나, 청춘) and runs until 11 October at the Geumsan World Ginseng Expo Plaza and Ginseng Herb Street, the county said. According to the county, family groups showed particular interest in ginseng-digging experiences and red ginseng foot baths, while youth-themed content such as a “Youth Music Cafe”, “Youth School” and “Youth Dance” drew high participation. [ 3 ]
Yonhap reported that a K-Insam beauty hall, introduced for the first time this year, offered artificial-intelligence-based skin diagnosis, red ginseng mask pack experiences and what the report described as the appeal of ginseng applied to the skin. Food including samgyetang, chueotang and ginseng highball was also popular, according to the county. A county official said the county would keep working to show a festival that people of all generations can enjoy. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The attendance figure is the county's own measure of a flagship local event built around ginseng, a crop the area promotes as its signature product. A strong opening holiday suggests the festival is drawing family visitors and first-time content such as the K-Insam beauty hall, though the documents give no economic data beyond visitor numbers.
Key facts
- About 530,000 people visited the Geumsan World Ginseng Festival during the four-day opening holiday, 2 to 5 October, according to the Geumsan county government. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The county government announced the figure on 6 October. [ 3 ]
- The festival is the 44th edition and runs until 11 October. [ 3 ]
- It is held under the theme “Always, Youth” (언제나, 청춘) at the Geumsan World Ginseng Expo Plaza and Ginseng Herb Street. [ 3 ]
- The county said family visitors showed high interest in ginseng-digging experiences and red ginseng foot baths. [ 3 ]
- A K-Insam beauty hall, introduced for the first time this year, offered AI-based skin diagnosis and red ginseng mask pack experiences. [ 3 ]
- Food including samgyetang, chueotang and ginseng highball was popular, according to the county report. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- About 530,000 people visited the festival during the four-day opening holiday, a figure reported by Kukmin Ilbo, Newsis and Yonhap. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The figure was announced by the Geumsan county government, an official source. [ 3 ]
- The festival is the 44th edition, held under the theme “Always, Youth” until 11 October at the Geumsan World Ginseng Expo Plaza and Ginseng Herb Street, the county said. [ 3 ]
Still unclear
- Total attendance for the full festival. The festival runs until 11 October, so only the opening holiday figure of about 530,000 for 2 to 5 October has been reported.
- Whether the 530,000 figure is a precise count or an estimate. Kukmin Ilbo and Newsis write “about 530,000”, while Yonhap and the county announcement state 530,000; the documents do not say how the number was compiled.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reports that about 530,000 people visited the Geumsan World Ginseng Festival over four days. [ 1 ]
- Newsis publishes a report with the same four-day attendance figure. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the Geumsan county government's announcement that 530,000 people visited during the opening holiday, 2 to 5 October. [ 3 ]