A view of last year's Bonghwa Matsutake Festival. [Bonghwa-gun]
A view of last year's Bonghwa Matsutake Festival. [Bonghwa-gun]

Bonghwa-gun in North Gyeongsang Province will host the 30th Bonghwa Matsutake Festival from Oct. 15 to 18 along the Naeseongcheon River in Bonghwa-eup, the county announced Monday.

Held under the slogan "Thirty years of deep fragrance, coloring Bonghwa," this year's festival has significantly expanded its hands-on programming, giving visitors a chance to taste and enjoy Bonghwa matsutake mushrooms and Bonghwa herbal beef.

The festival grounds will be divided into several zones: a "Matsutake & Herbal Beef Square" where visitors can sample both signature products; a "Naeseongcheon Food Lounge" serving matsutake ramyun and traditional liquor; a "Bonghwa Treasure Market" featuring local agricultural products and activity programs; and a "Matsutake Aroma Stage" for performances.

This year, organizers have made matsutake more accessible to tourists through small-quantity sales and on-site auctions. Mushrooms will be available in 100- to 200-gram portions, and a "One Mushroom Time Auction" will let visitors bid on premium specimens on the spot.

The Bonghwa herbal beef sales and promotion pavilion will hold free tasting sessions three times daily, and tourists who purchase matsutake or herbal beef can grill their purchases at a nearby rest area.

The Naeseongcheon Food Lounge will offer "Naeseongcheon Matsutake Ramyun," a cook-it-yourself meal kit combining matsutake and ramyun. Each bowl is priced at 5,000 won, with 1,000 servings available daily on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Bonghwa Treasure Market will feature sales of local produce including apples and mushrooms, traditional liquor tastings and hands-on brewing experiences, and cultural activities drawn from five Asian countries, including traditional games and craft workshops.

Running concurrently, the 43rd Cheongnyangmunhwaje cultural festival will showcase Bonghwa's traditional heritage through events such as the Samgye tug-of-war, a national classical Chinese poetry competition and a merchant troupe performance.

Evening entertainment will feature a variety of performances each night.

The opening stage on Oct. 15 will feature Kim Na-young, Lil Boi, Byun Jin-sub and Baek Ji-young, while Hong Jin-young and Nam Seung-min are among those set to perform on Oct. 16.

The second Bonghwa Global Song Festival takes place Oct. 17, and the closing day on Oct. 18 will feature performances by Cheon Rok-dam, Haru, Kim So-yeon and Jeon Yu-jin. A drone light show and fireworks display will follow the closing ceremony.

Bonghwa-gun County Chief Choi Ki-young said the festival has built its reputation over three decades and that this year's edition adds new ways for everyone to get up close with matsutake and herbal beef. "We will make sure it becomes an autumn trip that tourists will remember for a long time," he said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com