Jeon Seung-il, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member, "Local Festivals Must Evolve into Hybrid Festivals"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeon Seung-il, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Seo-gu Council, stated that in the era of COVID-19, festivals should not be unconditionally canceled but rather held as hybrid festivals combining online and offline formats, so that the livelihoods of cultural artists and festival-related workers are not threatened.

On the 14th, during a 5-minute speech at the 288th Seo-gu Council plenary session, Councilor Jeon said that without alternatives for holding festivals, festivals and tourism will once again come to a halt as they have now.

Councilor Jeon said, "The cycles of various diseases such as African swine fever and COVID-19 are becoming shorter, and I believe new variant viral diseases will continue in the future," adding, "I think attempts from a new perspective are important to overcome this."

He continued, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommends holding festivals while adhering to quarantine principles," and emphasized, "Therefore, I believe it is desirable to proceed with festivals through a three-stage festival hosting policy."

He explained that normally festivals should be held as traditional offline events; at social distancing level 1, safe and secure hybrid festivals combining online and offline formats should be held; at social distancing level 2, festivals should be held online and with indoor attendance limited to about 50 people and outdoor attendance to about 100 people according to quarantine guidelines; and at social distancing level 3, festivals should be fully canceled.

Councilor Jeon stated, "Across the country, local governments decide whether to cancel festivals based on the heads of institutions because there is no clear government policy," and claimed, "Festival-related departments issue task instructions and announcements as the festival period approaches, agencies prepare proposals and conduct presentations, and when they are about to secure first place and sign contracts, festivals are often canceled."

He added, "As this process repeats, the operations of festival-related workers, artists, and the performance industry are worsening and facing bankruptcy risks, and festival workers and staff are in serious danger of losing their jobs."

He emphasized, "While creating new jobs is important, it is reasonable to hold festivals to protect the livelihoods of existing cultural and artistic workers and artists so that workers, staff, and artists do not lose their jobs," adding, "This is fully possible through untact (contactless) performances."

He also said, "After COVID-19, festivals should transform from large-scale one-time events into safe and secure festivals centered on storytelling and content that spread to nearby tourist attractions and downtown areas," and argued, "Qualitative growth is more important than how many people visit the festival site; the daily capacity of the festival site should be reduced, and the festival period extended to promote the purpose of the festival and the region."

He further stated, "Through hybrid festivals combining online and offline formats, safe and secure festivals can be held, which will serve as promotional tools and archives that can expand festivals beyond local boundaries to nationwide and global levels," and said, "I believe holding festivals so that festival-related workers and cultural artists can live without threats to their livelihoods is the right direction."

Finally, he added, "Lastly, I will work hard for the cultural and arts sectors, the performance industry, festival-related companies, and related workers and artists."

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