PYEONGCHANG, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- The ninth Pyeongchang Highland Kimchi Festival has kicked off for a 13-day run through Nov. 16.

Launched in 2016, the festival aims to promote local agricultural specialties and boost the regional economy.

The main attraction this year is a hands-on kimchi-making program in which visitors can make their own kimchi using napa cabbage, radishes, green onions, red peppers and mustard greens grown in Pyeongchang's highland areas.

Napa cabbage grown at an average altitude of 700 meters is known for its firm texture and savory taste, thanks to the region's wide daily temperature fluctuations.

The main agricultural ingredients used for kimchi-making are sourced from Pyeongchang, while the remaining seasonings are also domestically produced.

This year, the festival has increased the volume of ingredients available for the kimchi-making program by about 20 percent from last year and added 20 workstations to accommodate more participants.

A separate kimchi-making program using napa cabbage salted with deep-sea water salt saw all reservations fill up on the first day, despite a roughly 40 percent increase in the prepared supply from last year.

The festival has also improved its layout by separating the kimchi-making area from the food zone, allowing visitors to enjoy the activities and meals more comfortably.

Special programs have been organized to promote Korean kimchi-making traditions, including hands-on sessions for foreign visitors and foreign YouTubers, as well as an event inviting young single-person households from urban areas.

About 100 local agricultural producers and groups are participating in the festival, including farms producing salted napa cabbage, red peppers, green onions and mustard greens, as well as an apple growers' association.

For the first time, this year's festival also features a special promotional event for Pyeongchang highland apples and a sales event showcasing premium local agricultural products, in an effort to expand market opportunities for regional producers.

Visitors can sample and purchase local agricultural and livestock products, including Pyeongchang apples and Daegwallyeong Korean beef. Food options also include boiled pork slices, acorn jelly and dumpling soup.

"We have expanded hands-on activities and programs to promote the quality of Pyeongchang's agricultural products and make the festival an occasion for neighbors to share warmth and friendship through kimchi-making," festival committee chief Jang Dong-sik said Thursday.

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