Yeongam-gun, Full Control of Cherry Blossom Spring Visitors 'All-Out Effort'

Emergency Response Team Deploys 60 Personnel Daily for Quarantine, Traffic, and Street Vendor Control
Full Vehicle and Visitor Restrictions at Wangin Baksa Historic Site Starting the 28th

Yeongam-gun has abruptly canceled the 2020 Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival, which was scheduled to be held from the 2nd of next month, and will completely restrict visitors during the spring season. (Photo by Yeongam-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seo Young-seo] Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 25th that it has decided to cancel the 2020 Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival, which was scheduled to be held from the 2nd of next month, and is concentrating all administrative efforts on completely controlling spring visitors as the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs.

Recently, issues have arisen such as confirmed COVID-19 cases in neighboring areas and confirmed patients from other regions visiting spring flower event sites. In response, an emergency task force for spring visitors has been formed and operated, taking strong measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The county has organized 6 divisions and 11 teams, including quarantine, traffic, facilities, street vendors, and cleaning, deploying 60 personnel daily, including public officials, police, and security service companies, for 16 days from the 28th, when cherry blossoms bloom, until the 12th of next month.

Additionally, through local media, they are promoting the restraint of spring visitor visits and have put up banners at county boundary areas, major roadsides, Gurim Traditional Hanok Village, Wangin Doctor Historic Site, and various streets, urging visitors to refrain from visiting and prohibiting entry as part of active publicity efforts.

In particular, anticipating a concentrated influx of spring visitors at the Wangin Doctor Historic Site, it will be closed from the 28th, with barriers installed from the parking lot entrance to fully control vehicles and visitors. Major side roads will also be designated as control zones where parking and stopping are prohibited.

Furthermore, in cooperation with the health center, thermal scanners will be installed, hand sanitizers provided, screening clinics and control posts operated, and frequent disinfection of parking lots and restrooms conducted. Two disinfection vehicles will patrol five major roadside sections totaling 10 km where cherry blossoms bloom, carrying out regular disinfection.

Street vendors, night markets, and Pumba performances that could be set up on cherry blossom paths and parking lots, which might attract crowds, will be intensively monitored. Natural purification activities will also be carried out to maintain a clean environment around tourist sites.

Meanwhile, to alleviate residents' anxiety about infection spread, the county is extensively promoting restraint from visiting the cherry blossom paths in the Gunseo area through village broadcasts and plans to minimize inconvenience to residents and spring visitors by assigning dedicated personnel at major points and quarantine booths.

Jeon Dong-pyeong, Yeongam County Governor, said, “The 2020 Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival, selected as Korea’s representative cultural tourism festival this year, was canceled after careful consideration to prioritize the health and safety of residents and prevent the spread of COVID-19.” He added, “In this unprecedented national disaster situation, we earnestly ask spring visitors to refrain from visiting Yeongam this year, and we will do our best to maintain a COVID-19 clean area.”

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