Word on that official site is that Gwangju's big fall festivals---the Chungjangno Festival, the Kimchi Festival, and the Design Biennale---will go on as originally planned:
신종 인플루엔자 확산 방지를 위해 내려졌던 정부의 ‘지방자치단체 축제 금지’ 지침이 바뀜에 따라 지자체들이 개최 여부를 놓고 고민에 빠졌다.
광주에서는 취소하거나 규모를 줄일 예정이던 ‘광주김치문화축제’와 ‘광주디자인비엔날레’ ‘충장축제’를 당초 예정대로 개최하는 방안이 검토되고 있다.
The Dong-A Ilbo reported the same, and that other local festivals and conventions planned for Gwangju and Jeollanam-do will go on as planned. The Chungjangno Festival will now run as originally planned, from October 13th through the 18th. The Design Biennale, originally scheduled to run from tomorrow, September 18th through November 4th, was abbreviated last week, but will now run through November 4th as originally planned.
Well, the local economy probably can't afford to cancel the entire season, though with other festivals in the area being cancelled, and with word already out about Gwangju and Jeollanam-do's cancellations, I'm sure attendance will be down. I wonder if complaints like those from the head of the Korea Tourism Organization are pressuring local authorities to force their events open.
The government's decision last week to cancel a multitude of festivities in provincial areas was inconsistent with the nation's ambition to become a tourism superpower, the head of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) said Monday.
"Many nations around the world have been hit by influenza A, but Korea is the only country to have taken such measures," KTO President Lee Charm said.
He made the remarks at his first official press conference since taking office 70 days ago.
"We looked into cases in the United States, France, Japan, China, Thailand, Hong Kong, etc. None of these countries instructed their local governments to cancel cultural or tourism plans as a countermeasure to the flu," he said.
"Simply avoiding crowded places is no solution. No one tells us to stop commuting on public transportation."
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security issued a set of instructions last week, urging local governments to "basically cancel large events lasting more than three days with over 1,000 participants."
But as kushibo has pointed out on his site, these fall festivals aren't attracting foreign tourists. Sure, foreigners go, but they're foreigners already in the country, and so-called "international" festivals don't attract international visitors unless they're invited. Also a major obstacle to attracting foreign visitors is the lack of English-language information . . . oh, that and frequently changing plans. But, since foreigners are not the target audience anyway, the lack of advertising or information shouldn't hurt numbers among them too much. I'll keep my eyes on these local festivals---thanks to KoreaMaria for letting me know about the change---but I'm not making many long-term plans this fall.
5 comments:
I wonder what attendance will be like now that it's been on, off, on, off, on, off.
In spite of the constant talk on GFN, I'm still not sure exactly what the Photonics Expo . . . does. Except present the greatest hope for humanity, that is.
I'd consider going to the other festivals, especially since the better half didn't go to the Chungjangno Festival last year. But, that's the most unimpressive of the 3. It's not really a festival, it's just "close Chungjangno and have more vendors than usual." I did like that "memory lane" thing in the old post office, and that's the type of attraction I wish they'd keep up all year.
The Kimchi festival . . . meh. it'll be different if it's at the World Cup Stadium this year, but that also means it's no longer a short walk for me. But there's really only so much you can do with kimchi.
I think this will be a great time to just catch up on nature, do some hiking, visit some parks, and enjoy weekends that aren't totally contrived.
If they keep these events and the flu outbreak continues, they will still blame the whole thing on other countries. My school has had a over 4 cases confirmed and they still haven't shut it down because the teachers don't want to have their winter vacations cut short. The city's health department has already came in and sprayed a mystery substance all over the school, classrooms and teacher's rooms.
I agree with you Brian that the Chungjangno (festival) is not really a festival. Thats true. There's nothing special at all.
Kimchi Festival is i supposed mediocre (at least from my experience). Again, nothing special.
Im more interested with the Photonics Expo in KDJ Center. I hope they will bring it back.
"Frequently Changing Plans" is a nice phrase that perfectly captures the Korean office work environment.
So if you are ever pissed off at work because of a new policy, don't worry: it either won't be enforced or the plans will change.
On the other hand: Feeling confident and cocky about a class or presentation that you have tomorrow? Oops -- you forgot to factor in the class will be cancelled, postponed 20 minutes, or moved to another room without the proper equipment.
I work afternoons at an office. One year they asked to schedule me for a special morning class. They changed the class date six times -- necessitating my changing my schedule each time.
Now they wonder why I don't jump at the chance to teach special morning classes there. Perhaps because their scheduling is so "special."
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