Fluttering wings, blooming spring in S. Korea: Hampyeong Butterfly Festival begins

For those of you here in Korea looking to enjoy the most out of the spring warmth, how about a butterfly festival?

Our Park Kun-woo shows us a glimpse of the spring festa.

Busy and colorful wings flutter through the air, signaling the full arrival of spring.

And there's no better place to experience it than at South Korea's biggest butterfly festival in Hampyeong-gun County, Jeollanam-do Province.

Celebrating its 27th edition, Hampyeong Butterfly Festival showcases around 200 thousand butterflies of nearly 20 different species.

Among them, the Korean tiger swallowtail has been named the Butterfly of the Year.

Caterpillars, larvae, and other fascinating insects also add to the festival's charm, making it a rare opportunity to enjoy nature up close.

After the festival kicked off on Friday, people from all over the country visited to enjoy not just the winged insects, but the vibrant scenes of spring.

"My friends and I are all over 70, but we've been here since early this morning, feeling as excited as if we were 18 again. There are so many flowers, butterflies, and even people! It's such a joy to be here."

"It's really fun to see butterflies I've only seen in books. There are so many kinds, like the cabbage white butterfly that I know, and I actually got to see them today! I hope more people can come and enjoy them too."

The festival isn't just for observing, as it's filled with intriguing activities to encounter butterflies, including feeding them using floral bouquets.

"Butterfly, Butterfly"

"One of the most exciting things you can try here is releasing a butterfly, so I'm going to try it myself. As I do it, I'll be sending off my greatest wishes on their wings, hoping they'll spark a beautiful butterfly effect. Now go, fly away!"

While butterfly populations are in decline globally, especially down by 22 percent in the U.S. over the past two decades, Hampyeong has worked hard to keep its ecosystem thriving.

"Instead of collecting butterflies from the wild, we raise them using selected breeding stock. To thrive, butterflies need host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for adults. And this clean and natural area of Hampyeong offers both in abundance."

He stressed that the combination of natural resources, expertise, and sustainable practices is making Hampyeong an ideal place for both the butterflies and the festival.

Offering visitors a colorful spring escape with butterflies galore, the festival runs through May 6th.

Park Kun-woo, Arirang News, Hampyeong.