Yecheon insect festival draws about 10,000 visitors, closes on high note

Yecheon-gun in North Gyeongsang Province announced Tuesday that the 2026 Yecheon Insect Festival drew about 10,000 visitors over three days at the Yecheon Insect Ecology Park, wrapping up to strong attendance.

Running from Aug. 15 through Monday, the festival featured a special exhibition organized in collaboration with the Paju Butterfly Museum, showcasing rare domestic and international butterfly and insect specimens that drew steady crowds.

A performance by the popular YouTube team "Egg Doctor" drew an enthusiastic response from children, while bubble and magic shows added to the festive atmosphere.

Families took part in butterfly-release activities, hands-on insect experiences and ecology talks, giving younger visitors an accessible and entertaining introduction to the insect world.

County officials said they plan to conduct a thorough review of this year's operations, identify areas for improvement and work toward a more polished festival in the future.

"I am grateful to the visitors who came out despite the poor weather, and to all the staff who worked together to ensure a safe event," Yecheon County Chief An Byeong-yun said. "We will continue to build this into a festival that keeps visitors coming back for the next edition — and one that children will want to return to even as they grow up."