Busan Gijang-gun Abruptly Cancels the 16th Gijang Eel Festival

Thorough Preparation to Present a Safer and Better Festival

Gijang County Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Busan Gijang-gun and the Gijang Eel Festival Promotion Committee have canceled the "16th Gijang Eel Festival," which was scheduled to be held from the 11th to the 13th at Chilam Port in Ilgwang-eup.

Gijang-gun and the Gijang Eel Festival Promotion Committee held a meeting on the 3rd and decided to fully cancel the event to express their condolences for the Itaewon incident.

The festival was originally scheduled after the national mourning period related to the Itaewon incident, but it was deemed inappropriate to proceed with the festival given the social atmosphere and public sentiment.

The Gijang Eel Festival is held annually, alternating between Chilam Port and Sinam Port, to promote Gijang's pristine coastal scenery and the excellence of eel.

The Gijang Eel Festival, which was to be held for the first time in three years due to COVID-19, had prepared various food, performances, and experience programs, but it has been postponed until next year.

Park Yong-ju, chairman of the Gijang Eel Festival Promotion Committee, said, "We express our deep condolences to the victims and their families and ask for the understanding of the residents and tourists who were looking forward to the festival," adding, "We will thoroughly prepare to present a safer and better festival in the future."

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