Geochang-gun Completes Trademark Transfer of Geochang International Theater Festival After 6 Years of Conflict

Final Transfer of 4 Projects Including KIFT Geochang International Theater Festival to Geochang County

Geochang County Office Building View (Photo by Geochang County)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam announced on the 3rd that the registration of the trademark transfer related to the Geochang International Theater Festival from the Geochang International Theater Festival Executive Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Committee) has been completed.

The trademark of the theater festival, which had been subject to legal disputes, was agreed to be transferred to the county and the Executive Committee for 1 billion KRW, with a memorandum of understanding signed on December 4 last year, and 800 million KRW was approved as an additional budget at the 254th extraordinary session this year.

After receiving the trademark transfer documents from the Executive Committee on the 1st, the county promptly proceeded with the transfer process and completed the transfer.

The trademarks transferred this time include a total of four items, including ‘KIFT Geochang International Theater Festival’.

The Executive Committee, focusing on the normalization and hosting of this year’s theater festival, requested an advance payment of 800 million KRW and delivered the trademark transfer documents to the county on the 1st.

They also urged the county and the council to present reasonable alternatives regarding the remaining payment of 200 million KRW.

The former county governor pledged ‘Normalization of the Geochang International Theater Festival’ during his candidacy and has done his best for normalization since the launch of the 7th local government, but the differences between both sides were not easily bridged, showing no signs of resolution.

However, after last year’s court ruling, an agreement with the Executive Committee, withdrawal of the Executive Committee’s lawsuit, and budget approval by the county council, the trademark transfer has finally borne fruit.

The former county governor said, “I express my gratitude to the Executive Committee, who made the decision to rekindle the flame of the theater festival from a crisis where it could have disappeared forever, and to the county council, media, civic groups, and residents who supported and cooperated for the normalization of the theater festival.”

He added, “With the trademark transfer, the conflicts have been resolved, and I believe only the path of development remains. We will do our best to prepare without any setbacks and return the theater festival to the arms of the residents.”

Meanwhile, the county plans to focus administrative power to hold the Theater Festival Normalization Promotion Council, gather opinions such as discussing operation plans, and make thorough preparations including securing additional budget related to the festival’s hosting.

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