ICHEON, Oct. 18 (Korea Bizwire) – The 23rd Icheon Rice Cultural Festival kicked off on October 16, transforming the Icheon Agricultural Theme Park into a celebration of the region’s most famous crop.
Running until October 20, the festival promises a cornucopia of sights, tastes, and experiences under the slogan “Everything Made from Rice, Made in Icheon.”
At the heart of the festivities is the “2,000 for 2,000″ event, where visitors can witness the cooking of rice for 2,000 people in a single, massive iron cauldron.
The pot, weighing in at 320 kilograms and measuring 1.6 meters in diameter and 1.7 meters in height, serves as a striking symbol of the community’s agricultural heritage.
Another highlight is the creation of a 600-meter rainbow rice cake, a traditional Korean delicacy known as garaetteok. This ambitious culinary feat requires 240 kilograms of rice — equivalent to three full sacks — and is intended to feed 2,000 people, with each receiving a 30-centimeter portion.
The vibrant colors of the rice cake are achieved using natural ingredients such as red cactus, pumpkin, green tea, and black rice, reflecting both the festival’s commitment to tradition and its flair for spectacle.
The rainbow rice cake isn’t just a treat for the taste buds; it carries cultural significance as well. Festival organizers explain that the creation and sharing of this enormous delicacy is meant to invoke blessings for longevity and a bountiful harvest.
Other events on the festival program include hands-on rice cake making workshops and a traditional rope-pulling contest, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in local customs and culinary arts.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
