Imsil County Launches Month-Long Pet-Friendly Travel and Festival Programs

Imsil County is launching a month-long slate of pet-friendly travel and experiential programs throughout October, combining local tourism with pet culture under the slogan “Osu, Siwol~~~~월,” Asiae reported. The initiative marks the second Animal Protection Day on October 4, bringing together pet owners and non-pet owners through festivals, camping, and train travel.

Exhibitions and Festival Programs at Osu Banryeonuri and Imsil Cheese Theme Park

The month-long calendar features multiple events tied to the region’s historical “Osu Faithful Dog” folklore. From October 3 to 5, the Osu Banryeonuri venue will host a pet culture exhibition hall, an Osu dog promotion hall, meetings with Osu dogs, Samoyed interactions, an exotic pet interaction zone, and chrysanthemum displays.

On October 4, the county will hold the “1004 DAY” animal protection promise event, featuring mini-consultations for dog behavior correction, basic behavioral education, and animal protection campaigns without requiring advance registration. During the Immsil N Cheese Festival from October 8 to 11, a dedicated pet shelter inside the Imsil Cheese Theme Park will provide parasols, mini-tents, pet transport rental items, dog caricatures, and cooked pet food experiences.

Regional Pet Tours and Festivals Expand in October

Travel programs expand further into regional attractions starting October 9, when 60 teams of dog-accompanying participants from the Gyeongsang region take part in a pet tour visiting Osu Opinion Tourist Area, the 119 Safety Experience Center, Okjeongho Fish Island, and the cheese theme park.

An autumn dog-accompanying camping festival will follow from October 16 to 18 at the Osu Opinion Tourist Area, featuring agility competitions, sports activities, talk shows, and concerts. On October 24, Corail will operate the “Imsil Daengdaeng Chrysanthemum Train” tourist train for 200 dog-accompanying teams. The month concludes with a “Halloween Pet Star” event on October 30 and 31 at the Osu Opinion Campsite, featuring street decorations, pet grooming booths, food trucks, concerts, magic shows, and open talk shows.

Vision for a Pet-Friendly Culture City

Imsil County is expanding pet-and-human co-existence into a new regional tourism resource by utilizing the historical story of the Osu dog, which dates back to the Goryeo dynasty, when a dog sacrificed its life to save its owner, inspiring an opinion monument and park. Imsil County Mayor Han Deuk-su stated, As we observe the 2nd Animal Protection Day, I hope this becomes a time to reflect not only on the joy of being with companion animals, but also on the values of a companion culture that respects life and cares for one another, adding, Centered on the Osu Opinion Tourist Area, we will link Imsil’s tourism resources and companion industry to develop into a companion-culture-friendly city where people and animals coexist.