A summer flower festival combining hydrangeas, hands-on activities and water play
Residents and tourists alike enjoy the event as a boost to the local economy
The 4th Gangjin Hydrangea Road Festival, held June 26-28 at V-Land near Boeunsan in Gangjin-eup, Gangjin-gun, drew more than 50,000 visitors and closed to widespread acclaim.
Held under the theme "Beautiful Hydrangea, Beautiful Gangjin," the three-day event combined scenic hydrangea displays with diverse hands-on activities, performances and programs to support local businesses, reaffirming its standing as the county's signature summer flower festival.
A total of 54,338 visitors attended this year, up 13 percent from 48,174 the previous year.
Organizers attributed the increase to the growing splendor of Gangjin's hydrangeas and a maturing lineup of activities and attractions — even without hot-weather relief measures or performances by popular singers. Participation in hands-on programs surged 127 percent to 4,168 people, from 1,835 the year before. Sales at food stalls and local agricultural product booths also rose by nearly 7 percent over the previous year.
Hydrangea gardens, flower-lined paths, photo zones and green tunnels set up throughout the festival grounds drew steady crowds, offering visitors vivid memories amid a riot of color. The hydrangea trail winding through the natural scenery of Boeunsan proved particularly popular as a spot for memorable photos, drawing families, couples and friends throughout the festival.
A woman in her 50s who came with three friends from Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, said the fine weather prompted her to drive straight to the festival. "The beautifully bloomed hydrangeas warmed my heart," she said.
A woman in her 30s who brought her three young daughters from Wando said she came after hearing the water park would be open during the festival. "I was truly happy watching the children have so much fun at the water fountain and the pool," she said.
A tourist in her 60s who traveled from Incheon with her husband and stopped in Gwangju to visit her brother and his wife before heading to the festival said the hydrangeas were "truly beautiful." She added that she planned to meet a friend who had returned to Maryang and share a plate of raw fish.
Amanda Bartholomew Parker, an American studying in South Korea, said she knew hydrangeas were beautiful but was delighted by the variety of flower beds on display. "I'm taking home such wonderful memories," she said.
Shawni Todd Conklin, another American visitor who came with a foreign student friend, said Korea's scenery never fails to impress. "The colorful hydrangeas of Gangjin have also moved me deeply," he said.
The opening ceremony featured a walk through a hydrangea arch, a flower-presentation performance by children and a group stroll along the hydrangea path. A hydrangea rising-star talent competition, a garden music concert, a children's magic show and a cotton candy performance followed, creating a festive atmosphere for visitors of all ages.
Hands-on programs also proved highly popular. A water survival game held at the V-Land water park — opened specially during the festival — gave families a way to beat the summer heat. A trekking stamp tour let visitors hike the hydrangea trail along the Boeunsan mountain path while completing missions and collecting small prizes, drawing strong participation.
Other activities — including making fragrance products, calligraphy-themed shrink-art keyrings, a slow-mail hydrangea post box, photo printing, woodworking and a kids' zone — added to the fun and boosted visitor satisfaction.
This year's festival also drew praise for operating as a community-oriented event that brought together residents and tourists. Linked street-market activation events drew large crowds and injected energy into local commerce. A gift-voucher cashback promotion, discounts through the public online food delivery app Meokkkaebi and a social media review event all saw high participation and helped stimulate local spending.
Flower stalls run by local growers, an agricultural products booth, the Gangjin Sunset Market and food trucks drew steady foot traffic throughout the festival. The event is being credited with achieving two goals at once: attracting tourists and revitalizing the local economy through increased consumption of regional produce and greater use of local shops.
Gangjin-gun County Chief Kang Jin-won said the festival had cemented its place as a leading summer flower festival, blending beautiful hydrangeas, diverse activities and local commerce. "We will continue to develop distinctive content unique to Gangjin and grow this into a nationally recognized flower festival," he said.
kkm9971@heraldcorp.com
