In the Nonsan City, Chungcheongnam-do Province
By Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik, President Kim Hyung-dae
The pre-opening ceremony of the 2024 Nonsan Strawberry Festival on the evening of March 22, 2024 was really something. Offhand, it was attended by many important international personalities for a local festival. It was graced with a record-high attendance by the Ambassadors and other senior members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps, where the dean was Ambassador U Thant Sin of the Union of Myanmar that evening by order of seniority of accreditation. (See list of participating diplomats at the end of this report.)
To Mayor Baek Sung-hyeon of the Nonsan City, organizer of the Festival, presence of the record-high number of ambassadors and other senior members of the Diplomatic Corps was the most welcome development as Mayor Baek has ardently been promoting the Festival to be a truly wonderful ‘International Event’ as well as a successful one in the country so that the strawberry festival and the Nonsan City can have a distinct mark on the map of the world—as well as on that of the Republic of Korea.
Mayor Baek’s welcome speech for the ambassadors and other guests that evening was very impressive. He said in part:
“In March, flowers that announce spring is here are now everywhere. There is one flower that is much more beautiful than others. It is the ‘Human Flower.’ The beautiful human flower is you, the citizen of the Nonsan City, and as well as all the distinguished guests, especially the ambassadors and other senior members of the Diplomatic Corps who add grace to the opening of our Festival this evening, and our Festival is becoming more and more internationalized with the passage of time.”
The nation’s ‘only and number one grand strawberry festival’ that evening was graced with the attendance of many VVIP personalities from all parts of the world as well as from within the Republic of Korea.
Offhand, present at the opening ceremony, among other VVIP guests, were Govoner Kim Tae-hum of Chungcheongnam-do Province with other government and civic leaders and the ambassadors and other senior members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps who came with Ambassador U Tan of Myanmar (dean of the visiting members of the SDC that day).
The tour of the Festival for the ambassadors of and other prominent members of the Diplomatic Corps was organized by The Korea Post media (led by Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik).
Also present at the opening ceremony among other the international dignitaries was Mayor Chatchat Sittipan of the Bangkok City of the Kingdom of Thailand, who had a very special relationship with the City of Nonsan.
At the festival site, there were many interesting programs which included those also for children, including the Nonsan Strawberry Festival Art Competition. The strawberry taste test contest, strawberry rice cake making contest, and strawberry game zone captivated the senses of visitors with various configurations and preparations.
There also was a talk concert, hosted by writer Kim Hong-shin, where the audience had the opportunity to meet famed, senior singers of Korea such as Son Chang-sik (89 years old) and Ong Sang-kyu (93 years old), who led strawberry cultivation in the 1960s, when strawberry cultivation was in full swing during the 100-year history of Nonsan strawberries.
The opening ceremony began with an opening declaration by Chairman Kwon Pyung-sik of the Strawberry Festival Steering Committee. Kwon made the statement before the presence of 50 ambassadors and other important member s of the Diplomatic Corps and other Korean and international dignitaries.
There also were Governor Kim Tae-heum of the Chungcheongnam-do Province, Chairman Lim Jang-sik of the Nonsan Branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, and Chairman Kang Ho-dong of the Head Office of the Korean Agricultural Cooperatives Federation
The stage has already been set for the world as an outstanding international strawberry festival. Mayor Baek not only expressed his ambitions for the Festival to go beyond Korea and Asia but also awakened the pride of the citizens of Nonsan by explaining the city's strength, vision and the changes taking place in the Nonsan City.
Governor Kim of the Chungcheongnam-do Province (in which the Nonsan City was located) said in his congratulatory message, "I promise to provide our unreserved support for the successful hosting of the Nonsan World Strawberry Expo in 2027." Then he said, “There are many big projects planned at the provincial level with the Nonsan City such as the Defense Cluster, Topjeong Lake Development Project, Nonsan World Strawberry Expo, and the ‘One Million-pyeong Industrial Complex." (One pyeong equals 6 square feet).
There also were performances by a fusion Korean music group, Granada, and Trot Singer Park Jae-hyun, and Diva in Soon-yi, who culminated the colorful events at the opening ceremony.
Mayor Baek said, “I hope that Nonsan and its strawberries, which are the pride of Nonsan, will be beautifully engraved in the hearts of everyone who grace us this evening with their kind presence at this ceremony this evening!” Then he said, "The value of the Nonsan City is already shining in all parts of the world," and then asked the audience, "Please help us organize the World Strawberry Industry Expo in 2027 with great success so that we can further expand the potential of our Nonsan City!"
In particular, the event was organized to support and encourage the hosting of the 2027 Nonsan World Strawberry Industry Expo.
The Festival had many interesting programs, which included programs for children, such as the Nonsan Strawberry Festival Art Competition, the Nonsan Strawberry Taste Detective Contest, the Strawberry Rice Cake-Drawing Contest, and the Strawberry Game Zone, which captivated visitors' eyes.
In addition, there also was a pop opera performance combined with strawberry clothing that gave the audience a fresh and moving experience.
At this juncture, Mayor Baek said, "I hope that Nonsan and its strawberries, which are the pride of Nonsan, will be beautifully engraved in the hearts of everyone who is here with us this evening attending this ceremony."
Mayor Baek then added: "The value of Nonsan is already shining in the world and I am hoping that all the countries of the world, thanks to the distinguished ambassadors and other senior diplomats gracing us here today, would surely help us successfully organize the 2027 World Strawberry Expo so that we can further expand the potential of our Nonsan City!"
Opening Remarks by Mayor Baek Sung-hyun of the Nonsan City:
In March, flowers that announce spring are blooming everywhere. There is one flower that is much more beautiful than others. It is the ‘Human Flower.’ The beautiful human flower is you, everyone of the citizens of the Nonsan City, and also the distinguished Ambassadors and other senior members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps who are here today adding grace to our Festival which is becoming more and more internationalized with the passage of time.
Distinguished international guests who visit us here at the Nonsan City! My heartiest welcome to all the dear visitors to our Nonsan City!
We hope that all our welcome visitors will see the wonderful features of Nonsan and experience, make memories, find things to do, and have a healing time.
At the same time, I would like to ask you to give a lot of encouragement and courage to the 120,000 citizens of Nonsan City and the 1,500 public officials who are struggling to make Nonsan the best local government in Korea by creating quality jobs through the defense industry, even though the festival which is changing and improving day by day.
The 26th Nonsan Strawberry Festival, which is held from today to the 24th, has three characteristics.
First, it is a festival that enhances the value of Nonsan.
Second, it is a festival that raises the pride of Nonsan citizens.
Third, it is a festival that raises the hopes of Nonsan agriculture.
Through these three welcome developments, we strive to make Nonsan the best local government in the Republic of Korea that is worth living in, worth visiting, and worth introducing as the pride of the Republic of Korea.
No matter where you go in the Republic of Korea, you always keep Nonsan in mind and send us love, and last year, the best number of people loved us through the Hometown Love Donation Program in Chungnam-do, Daejeon, and Sejong.
We are grateful for that, and we look forward to your love again this year,
This year's Strawberry Festival has 14 children's programs and 17 strawberry fields. We want to create your curiosity and hope for the future with a helicopter ride and a helicopter exhibition that is unique in the world.
This is the kind of opportunity that cutting-edge defense industries can give our youth new dreams and hopes.
Right here at the Civic Stadium, the all-weather stadium, and the Science Kids Zone next to it, we will capture and nurture your dreams together.
We hope to capture your hearts, the hearts of the Korean people and the hearts of all the peoples of the globe, by presenting memorable and epic festivals to prepare for the '27 Nonsan Strawberry Industry Expo,’ which has just started this year.
If there is anything inconvenient to anyone visit us here this year, we will improve it next year and create a better, bigger, and stronger Nonsan Strawberry Festival as well as the city itself, promising you that we will create a better, bigger, and stronger Nonsan!
We hope that you will enjoy the four days of the Nonsan Strawberry Festival with us, creating a beautiful memory—plus a warm romance with Nonsan.
My heartiest welcome to all of you who visit the Nonsan City! Thank you!
Again, my heartiest welcome and thanks to all the dear gests visiting us at the Nonsan City throughout the Festival period—and beyond!
My heartiest welcome and many thanks!