Chungcheongnam-do

▲Geumsan Insam Festival.

The 33rd Geumsan Insam (Ginseng) Festival took place for 10 days from September 6 to 15 under the theme of ※Health trip to Geumsan will make your future healthy.§

According to the Geumsan County government, 765,000 people visited the festival this year, producing economic effects worth 95.2 million dollars and reconfirming its standing as Korea＊s best industrial festival in combination with culture and tourism. Especially, the festival enhanced satisfaction among tourists by strengthening health programs for people of all ages from children to the elderly.

Thorough organization and operation and close cooperation between the public and the private have also contributed to strengthening the festival＊s status as an event combining industry, culture and tourism altogether.

This year, the hands-on experience program of Insam harvesting, in which people travelled to Insam fields and harvested Insam firsthand, was the most popular. Since people could not only have the pleasure of harvesting, but also buy quality Insam at affordable prices, it was always crowded with tourists throughout the festival period.

Geumsan Insam known for its 1,500-year history and medicinal efficacy is also drawing global attention. Geumsan Insam Festival is a representative local festival of Chungnam Province and Geumsan County where Korea＊s largest Insam trading center and the world＊s largest Insam and medicinal herbs market are located.

This festival, which originates in a small traditional fair about Insam having taken place for years in the region, took the current shape in 1981 as it drew attention from domestic and foreign tourists. In 1999, Geumsan emerged as a hub of international Insam trade by hosting the first International Insam Trade Fair. On the 16th anniversary of the festival, it was selected as one of the key local festivals to be promoted strategically by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The festival was also chosen as one of the Best Festivals ten times by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Geumsan County was selected as a World Festival and Event City by the International Festivals and Events Association.

As the Geumsan Insam Festival develops into a global festival and the efficacy and medicinal action of Geumsan Insam is scientifically proven, an increasing number of people who seek for healthy and green life come to Geumsan every year.

The County government recently held a meeting to report the results of this year＊s festival and scheduled the next one for September 19 through 28, 2014.