No Festivals or World Cup Street Cheers... A Quiet and Somber Year-End Anticipated

Football Association Cancels Qatar World Cup Street Viewing Completely
Busan Fireworks Festival Returns After 3 Years, Beolgyo Kkomak Festival Also Canceled
Experts Say "National Trauma... Long-Term Continuation Must Be Avoided"

On the 28th, street cheering squads were celebrating at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul after South Korea defeated Germany 2-0 in the 2018 Russia World Cup match. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] In the aftermath of the ‘Itaewon tragedy,’ various events and festivals scheduled across the country are being canceled or scaled down one after another. The intention is to mourn the victims in a solemn atmosphere, but some argue that the socially heavy mood should not persist longer than necessary.

First, street cheering will disappear from the upcoming World Cup. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced on the 4th, “We had prepared street cheering events at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, as we did during the 2018 Russia World Cup, but after discussions with the association and sponsors, we judged that holding street cheering less than a month after the Itaewon tragedy would not align with public sentiment.” They stated that street cheering will not be held during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which opens on the 21st (Korean time). Local governments nationwide are also canceling street cheering events they had planned individually.

The 17th Busan Fireworks Festival, which attracts about one million visitors annually, was also canceled. Busan City initially planned to hold the fireworks festival at Gwangalli Beach on the 5th but decided to postpone it indefinitely. Although about 3,700 safety management personnel, including public officials, police, private security companies, and Marine Corps veterans, were mobilized and control measures for major access points were prepared, Busan City explained that the decision was made considering the national mourning period. This event, marking its 6th edition this year, had not been held normally for the past three years due to COVID-19 but was scheduled to be held normally this year.

Jeollanam-do Boseong-gun also ultimately canceled the 19th Beolgyo Cockle Festival. Boseong-gun had planned to hold the Beolgyo Cockle Festival for three days from the 4th to the 6th but postponed it once to the 11th due to the implementation of the national mourning period. After repeated meetings of the Beolgyo Cockle Festival Promotion Committee, they agreed to cancel the festival considering the social atmosphere and public sentiment. Since this festival was also expected to be held for the first time in three years, local residents had high expectations.

Some events that are partially resuming are operating on a reduced scale. For example, the country’s largest game exhibition, ‘G-Star 2022,’ opening on the 17th, canceled special events such as drone performances and fireworks shows. Although there were possibilities of postponement or cancellation, the organizing committee decided to proceed as planned. However, they minimized festival-like programs and adjusted the event schedule to align with the exhibition’s original purpose. Outdoor parade events will also not be held for safety reasons.

Additionally, many regional festivals are being postponed but are proceeding with some events such as congratulatory performances canceled. Because of this, cultural artists and self-employed business owners are suffering considerable damage. Given this situation, some voices criticize that canceling events even in regions or places unrelated to the tragedy amounts to ‘forced mourning.’

Experts say that this trend is a natural phenomenon in the wake of a national disaster but advise that it should not last too long. Professor Gu Jeong-woo of the Department of Sociology at Sungkyunkwan University explained, “It can be seen not only as mourning but also as a reflection of national trauma related to crowded spaces,” adding, “Since it is important for people to carry on with their daily lives, this heavy atmosphere should not persist for too long.”

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