Flowers of Pyeongchang

[Anchor Lead]

Ten million crape myrtle flowers are in full bloom in Pyeongchang in Gangwon-do Province, which will soon host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Next, we will bring you a spectacle of crape myrtle flowers stretching along the Pyeongchang-gang River, offering pure autumn experience.

[Pkg]

Crape myrtle flowers are in full bloom in Pyeongchang in Gangwon-do Province, the host of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. The flower field was created by 2,018 residents and volunteers who planted 150,000 crape myrtle trees in an area measuring 30,000 square meters in hopes for the successful hosting of the Olympic games.

[Soundbite] Lee Jeong-il(Gyeonggi-do Prov. Resident) : "It feels like autumn a lot. The atmosphere is good. It's refreshing to see the flowers in full bloom. I came here after hearing that Pyeongchang is hosting this festival."

This year's event is the third installment of the crape myrtle festival, which was launched in 2015. It has become a representative autumn festival of Pyeongchang, as the field of ten million crape myrtle flowers have gained fame across the nation. The festival attracted 200,000 tourists last year. The number is expected to further increase until the festival ends on October eighth, which overlaps with the long Chuseok holiday.

[Soundbite] Park Deok-soo(rganizing Chief, Crape Myrtle Festival) : "Especially, various lights were installed to create nighttime spectacles. Preparations were made to allow tourists to enjoy the flowers for an extended period of time."

Selected as a community garden project, the crape myrtle flower festival will receive subsidies from the government. It is set to make a greater leap by expanding and reinforcing facilities for tourists.