Gapyeong County Opens 'Jara Island Flower Festa' on the 13th as a Sign of Gratitude and Comfort

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] On the 13th, Gapyeong County held an opening ceremony for the 'Jara Island Flower Festa' at Jara Island Namdo, which has been selected as Gyeonggi Province's representative tourism festival for three consecutive years, and opened the festival.

The opening ceremony was attended by about 50 people including County Governor Seo Tae-won, County Assembly Speaker Kim Gyeong-su, assembly members, and leaders of regional organizations and civic groups. The event began with a drum performance announcing hope, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Governor Seo and Speaker Kim, which reflected the residents' hopes for overcoming flood damage.

County Governor Seo Tae-won said in his remarks, "This flower festa is an occasion for all county residents to show hope that they can overcome flood damage and rise again as one," adding, "With the warm support many have shown, we will do our best so that Gapyeong can grow even stronger."

This year's festival was organized under the theme of "Flowers blooming through hardship, we thank you for your warm hearts."

At the entrance of the Namdo venue, a "Tree of Comfort and Gratitude" was installed so that messages of gratitude could be conveyed to those who helped overcome the flood damage, and words of comfort could be left for affected residents.

Additionally, diverse autumn flowers including cockscomb symbolizing connection, penstemon meaning grace, and sunflower conveying hope were planted.

Meanwhile, the flower festa, which runs through October 12, has admission hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with exit at 7 p.m. Admission is free for Gapyeong County residents and children 5 years old or younger, while outside tourists can pay 7,000 won for admission and receive 5,000 won reimbursed in Gapyeong Love gift certificates.