"To Protect the Safety of Residents and Tourists" ... Gijang-gun Decides to Cancel the 'Gijang Anchovy Festival'

Busan Gijang Anchovy Festival image.

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] The Gijang Anchovy Festival Promotion Committee announced the cancellation of the "26th Gijang Anchovy Festival," Gijang's representative seafood festival originally scheduled for April.

The festival cancellation is a measure to protect the safety of residents and tourists amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for the third consecutive year.

The "Gijang Anchovy Festival" has been held annually since 1997 to promote large anchovies, measuring 10 to 15 cm in length, caught by fixed net fishing.

Anchovies in Gijang are mainly caught in spring and autumn. The adult anchovies caught off the coast of Gijang in spring are characterized by their rich fat content and tender flesh.

It is known that up to one million tourists visit Daebyeon Port annually to taste anchovies during this season.

Although the "Gijang Anchovy Festival" was inevitably canceled due to COVID-19, fresh anchovies are being auctioned and sold at low prices around Daebyeon Port.

At the "Daebyeon Fishery Cooperative Seafood Direct Market," completed in September last year, various dried seafood products such as anchovy jeotgal (salted fermented anchovies) and dried anchovies can be purchased at affordable prices.

A county official said, "Due to the continuous occurrence of COVID-19 cases, we decided to cancel the festival in accordance with government quarantine guidelines. Although the festival was canceled, we hope visitors come to Daebyeon Port to enjoy the spring atmosphere along with Gijang anchovies."