Gwangyang City Urges Refraining from Visiting Maehwa Village Amid Severe COVID-19 Situation

Focus on Traffic Measures and Creating a Pleasant and Safe Environment

Strict Crackdown on Illegal Activities Such as Unauthorized Street Vendors, Night Markets, and Pumba Performances

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Gwangyang City, Jeonnam, announced on the 26th that it has abruptly canceled the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival due to the COVID-19 infectious disease crisis alert being raised to the severe level, and requested citizens and tourists to refrain from visiting Maehwa Village.

However, the city plans to provide convenience support for visitors who inevitably come and strive to create a pleasant and safe environment.

Accordingly, from the 4th to the 15th of next month, the city will operate a traffic control situation room and strengthen traffic guidance and parking management on major roads in cooperation with the police station, traffic enforcement, and security service companies.

The city officials, who are making every effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, will not work on weekends, will install additional portable toilets, and will assign dedicated personnel for toilet cleaning and sanitation workers.

The city will also strictly crack down on illegal street vendors, night markets, Pumba performances, illegal road occupation, and unauthorized buildings.

To prevent and crack down on illegal activities, joint guidance and enforcement will be carried out with related departments such as tourism, environment, roads, architecture, health and hygiene, and agricultural support, and a service for cracking down on illegal street vendors will be promoted to completely block them.

In addition, plans to operate direct transaction markets, local specialty product sales and experiences, traditional restaurants, and food trucks for income generation of local residents, revitalization of the local economy, and convenience of tourists have been completely canceled due to the impact of the coronavirus spread.

Lee Hwayeop, Director of Tourism, said, “Since the COVID-19 infectious disease crisis alert is at the severe level, we ask that you refrain from visiting Maehwa Village this spring as much as possible,” and added, “We will also make efforts to ensure the health and safety of visitors to Maehwa Village during this unprecedented national disaster situation.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.