Geochang Cultural Foundation Decides to Cancel the 31st Geochang International Theater Festival

County Council, Local Media Gather Various Opinions, Decision Made at Cultural Foundation Board Meeting

Guinmo Gochang County Governor's Press Conference on the Cancellation Decision of the Geochang International Theater Festival
[Image source=Geochang County]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Gu In-mo, the mayor of Geochang County, announced at a press conference held in the county office situation room on the 13th that the 31st Geochang International Theater Festival will be canceled.

This year, the festival was scheduled from July 30 to August 7, featuring 48 works and over 60 performances, drawing much anticipation and interest as it was to be held for the first time in five years.

However, on the 10th, five employees of the Cultural Foundation tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the afternoon of the 11th, the county convened an emergency executive meeting to gather opinions from each department, and requested an early session of the Geochang County Council's weekly meeting to hear their views, making efforts to manage the situation.

Furthermore, after collecting diverse opinions from various sectors including local journalists, it was finally decided to cancel the event.

As a countermeasure for concerns arising from the cancellation, the county administration will share the sense of loss with stakeholders and minimize sunk costs by utilizing selected works to hold regular weekend performances at Susungdae and other venues within the county until the end of the year.

Gu In-mo, mayor of Geochang County, said, “I apologize to the Geochang County Council who allocated the event budget, the citizens who supported us, and the hometown supporters who love the theater festival from other regions, for not being able to proceed as originally planned.”

He added, “I ask for compliance with quarantine rules and cooperation so that we can overcome the COVID-19 crisis well, and we will do our best to restore our precious daily lives as soon as possible.”

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