Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, Cancellation Decided Again This Year by Steering Committee

Gwangyang Maehwa Festival Promotion Committee Subcommittee Holds Final Decision

Strengthening Administrative Support for Quarantine Management in Maehwa Village and Income Preservation for Maesil Farms

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] Jeonnam Gwangyang City, which was deliberating until the last moment on whether to hold the 22nd Gwangyang Maehwa Festival, has decided to cancel the festival.

On the 17th at 2 p.m., the city held a subcommittee meeting of the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival Promotion Committee at the 5th floor International Exchange Hall of the Gwangyang City Council, where this decision was made.

Kim Jong-ho, chairman of the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival Promotion Committee, who presided over the meeting, urged, “Since the situation with COVID-19 variants such as Omicron continues, please be cautious in deciding whether to hold the festival.”

One committee member attending the meeting stated, “Given the current situation, it is obviously correct to cancel,” and added, “Even if the festival is canceled, thorough administrative support from the authorities for the spring visitors is necessary.”

Another member expressed concern, saying, “It is not advisable to host events where many people gather during uncertain times when unexpected variant viruses continue to emerge,” and warned, “If the virus spreads, a negative image could be attached to the Gwangyang Maehwa Festival.”

Kim Jong-ho, chairman of the Maehwa Festival Promotion Committee, conveyed, “In response to the government’s quarantine policies aimed at ending COVID-19 and prioritizing the safety and health of citizens, we have collectively decided to inevitably cancel the 2022 Gwangyang Maehwa Festival.”

Although the festival will not be held, the city plans to operate a situation room to prepare for spring visitors and will focus all efforts on preventing the spread of infectious diseases through traffic and parking management, crackdowns on illegal street vendors and illegal restaurants, and additional installation of portable toilets.

Additionally, to compensate for the income loss of plum farmers severely affected by the consecutive cancellations of the Maehwa Festival, the city plans to prepare support measures for online sales.

Park Soon-gi, head of the Tourism Division, said, “We will make every effort to manage quarantine and environmental cleanup in the Maehwa Village area in preparation for spring visitors to Gwangyang Maehwa Village, and strengthen administrative power such as supporting online sales to compensate for the income of plum farmers.”

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

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