Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival, Final Cancellation with Hope for Next Year

Consideration for Hosting Next Spring When Cherry Blossoms Fully Bloom

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] The Jeonnam Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival Promotion Committee (Chairman Shin Young-sik) announced on the 17th that it held a promotion committee meeting on the 14th at the town office small conference room and finally canceled the 2021 festival.

The Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival, which has played a significant role in revitalizing the local economy as Gwangyang City's representative autumn festival, was canceled in 2019 due to African swine fever and in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. With this cancellation decision, the autumn festival in Gwangyang-eup will not be held for three consecutive years.

Chairman Shin Young-sik said, "We reviewed the opportunity to give hope to local residents until the last moment amid the COVID-19 situation, but considering the ongoing national crisis, we judged that holding the festival would be difficult," and gathered the committee members' consensus to finally approve the cancellation of the 2021 Gwangyang Traditional Charcoal Grill Festival.

The committee discussed holding the charcoal grill festival next spring to coincide with the full bloom of cherry blossoms at Seocheon, which has become a famous cherry blossom spot.

Additionally, they shared various opinions such as operating a permanent organization through website creation, holding festivals throughout Gwangyang-eup including around the cultural center, and installing rapid chargers along the Seocheon riverside, agreeing to make thorough preparations for next year's festival starting now.

Jung Eun-tae, mayor of Gwangyang-eup, said, "At the end of last year, we expected the COVID-19 situation to end and resolved to hold a successful festival, but this year again, all festivals are being canceled due to COVID-19."

He added, "Holding the festival in spring to embrace the warm spring atmosphere is also a good idea," and "I hope you will prepare diligently so that the festival can also help revitalize the local economy."

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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