Among the 'Tour Dure' projects supported by the Korea Tourism Organization and operated by local cooperatives, Foreo, White Flower Village cooperative, established by local residents in Geumsan-gun(county), introduced the best ginseng digging experience program in Korea, around the village from September 16th to 17th.
The site, located at Shinan-ri (district), Jewon-myeon (town), Geumsan-gun, including White Flower Village, is the last clean remote area in Geumsan-gun, where the highest quality ginseng was produced and sold at the highest price. Inspired by this, Foreo Cooperative presented Geumsan's best ginseng digging experience program on the site.
On the first day, 20 or so visitors who attended the program first gathered at the Motoongi (corner) cafe, received guidance, and then actively participated in ginseng digging despite the rain. They each dug up a few ginseng plants and then tasted fried and grilled ginseng on the spot. In the evening, they enjoyed boiled chicken food made with ginseng and diverse medicinal herbs.
After dinner, they had the time to walk about 1 km along the unpaved road at night with lights on through the pitch-black darkness nearby, and then take a night-time stone lantern sightseeing to a place where stone towers and watermills are illuminated with bright lights. Then, they took part in a light painting event in the dark, which is popular these days. They also enjoyed the time to direct and take pictures with various poses. The first day's program ended around 9 o'clock with attendees splitting up in groups and staying overnight at each house in a rural village.
The next day, after having a meal mainly made with vegetables grown in the village, they took a walk through the surrounding area, which is remote but also comfortable, clean, and narrative. Finally, they gathered again at the Motoongi cafe to exchange their impressions on this program, fill out questionnaires, and finish the schedule by taking red ginseng extract and fermented sun peach liquid as souvenirs. Additionally, attendees wishing to visit nearby tourist attractions were introduced separately by Foreo Cooperative and departed in their own groups.
Lim Yun-sik, CEO of Foreo Cooperative, who oversaw this experience program, said, “With the experience of digging up the best ginseng in Geumsan at White Flower Village, tasting it in various dishes, and taking it home, we are offering a unique tour opportunity with a night-time stone lantern tour in the last clean remote area of Geumsan-gun. We are so happy to introduce it for the first time,” He also stressed, “In the future, we will develop Geumsan’s best ginseng experience program operated by Foreo Cooperative into Geumsan’s representative tour program.”
