Gurye-gun to Operate 'Car-Free Street' on Earth Day, April 22

Traffic Control from Police Station to Gurye High School on the 22nd from 11 AM to 5 PM
Various Programs Including Flea Market, Cultural Performances, and Anabada Market

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yuk Miseok] Jeollanam-do Gurye-gun (Governor Kim Sun-ho) announced on the 12th that it will operate Gurye-eup area as a "car-free street" on the 22nd in celebration of Earth Day.

This event was decided after several consultations with the village chief of Bongnam-ri, the merchants' association, citizens, and related organizations, starting from the proposal by a Gurye civic group titled "Small Steps for the Earth."

The "car-free street" event will completely restrict vehicle traffic on a section of about 560 meters from the police station rotary on Bongseong-ro in Gurye-eup to the main gate of Gurye High School, and operate various programs such as flea markets, cultural events, and Ana-bada markets.

Vehicle restrictions will be enforced for six hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., considering office workers' lunch hours and students' dismissal times.

As cultural events, Gurye's representative free market "Kongjang" will be operated, and outdoor performances by local groups such as "Sosohan Band," "Jihee," and "Oksusu" will be held.

Various events are planned, including the Ana-bada market, exhibitions related to the climate crisis and Asiatic black bears, used book sales, street imagination writing, and resident surveys.

The event section on Bongseong-ro is used as the main commuting route for students of six schools, including Gurye Central Elementary School and Gurye Girls' Middle School.

However, due to narrow roads and illegal parking on sidewalks, the safe walking of students and residents has been threatened, and continuous demands for improvement have been raised.

Kim Sun-ho, Governor of Gurye-gun, said, "The car-free street event, held for the first time in Gurye, is a highly symbolic event that aligns with the direction of Gurye-gun's administration," and added, "Through cooperation with residents, civic groups, and related organizations, we will enhance the city brand and ultimately revive tourism and the economy."

He continued, "Although there may be some inconvenience in store operations and traffic, this is a meaningful event to improve the quality of life for residents, including students, so we ask for the active cooperation of the residents."

Meanwhile, Earth Day is a global commemorative day that started in the United States on April 22, 1972, with the purpose of protecting the Earth's environment.

In 2009, the United Nations (UN) designated it as "International Mother Earth Day."

Every year on this day, various commemorative events with environmental themes, such as car-free street events, are held worldwide.

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