IMSIL, Oct. 8 (Korea Bizwire) – The Imsil N Cheese Festival, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has shattered attendance records, drawing over 580,000 visitors to this small county in North Jeolla Province.
Local officials reported that the four-day event, held from October 3 to 6, saw a surge in attendance, with approximately 20,000 more visitors than last year. This influx of tourists is particularly remarkable for Imsil County, whose total population stands at just 26,000 residents.
The festival’s economic impact was equally impressive. Sales of cheese, dairy products, and local agricultural specialties reached 2.45 billion won, marking a 67% increase from last year’s 1.63 billion won.
To commemorate its decade-long run, organizers introduced several innovative attractions. One of the most popular events was “Stretch My Cheese”, where about 1,000 participants connected a 2,000-meter string of cheese around the festival grounds.
Visitors also flocked to experience the “Imsil N Cheese Dessert Fondue”, which used 200 kilograms of aged cheese, and tried their luck at the “Rolling Gold Fortune” event.
The festival’s success came despite intermittent rain, with officials crediting the extended holiday weekend for boosting attendance.
Even as the cheese festival concludes, Imsil County continues to draw visitors with its chrysanthemum display. The festival grounds will remain open until early November, showcasing millions of chrysanthemums in full bloom.
Sim Min, the county mayor, expressed his satisfaction with the festival’s growth. “We’re delighted that the Imsil N Cheese Festival has evolved into a major event,” he said. “We’ll carefully address any shortcomings to ensure an even more perfect festival next year.”
Image credit: Imsil County, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
