Chungnam Governor Park Soo-hyun attended the opening ceremony of the 44th Geumsan World Ginseng Festival, held at the Geumsan Ginseng Museum Plaza on the 2nd, to celebrate the start of the festival and widely promote the value of Geumsan ginseng.

As South Korea's representative industrial festival, the Geumsan World Ginseng Festival runs for 10 days from the 2nd to the 11th around the Geumsan Ginseng Museum Plaza and the Ginseng and Herb Street under the theme "Forever Young!"

This year, with the goal of vitalizing the local economy and leaping forward as a global health festival, the festival has expanded the application areas of ginseng and strengthened visitor experience and participation-oriented contents.

In addition, night contents and programs for foreign tourists have been expanded, and efforts are being put into eco-friendly and safety management.

Major programs are designed so visitors can directly experience the efficacy and value of ginseng, such as ginseng harvesting, red ginseng foot baths, red ginseng ear acupuncture, and traditional medicine experiences. Various hands-on activities are also available, including the K-Insam Beauty Pavilion, where visitors can explore ginseng's application in the beauty sector through artificial intelligence (AI) skin diagnosis, red ginseng sheet masks, and making ginseng mists.

Furthermore, a large-scale drone lighting show expressing the history and tradition of Geumsan ginseng will be held centering around the opening and closing ceremonies during the festival period. Plans are in place to induce tourist stays and expand the entertainment options of the festival by linking the festival site's night scenery with various night contents.

The province and Geumsan County plan to continue cooperation so that the Geumsan World Ginseng Festival can enhance the industrial value of ginseng and grow into a global festival visited and stayed in by domestic and foreign tourists by linking it with local historical, cultural, and tourism resources.

At the event, Governor Park stated, "Geumsan is indisputably the 'World Capital of Ginseng,'" adding, "Geumsan ginseng is South Korea's representative specialty carrying on the 1,500-year tradition of Baekje ginseng, and 'Geumsan Traditional Ginseng Agriculture' was listed as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) in 2018, gaining global recognition for its value."

He added, "If we bring together various ideas for Geumsan, such as the ginseng and herb theme park, it will become a new dream for Geumsan," and noted, "We will further elevate the value of ginseng and herbs while also reviving fine resources like Jeokbyeokgang River, connecting Geumsan's pride to its future."

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