Festivals across the country are at risk of being suspended due to aging and budget constraints, with even special events in the provinces disappearing. This raises concerns about the need for measures to be taken.
Festivals Facing Suspension: Aging and Budget Constraints
( Credit to: Mk )
Festivals across the country are at risk of being suspended due to aging and budget constraints, with even special events in the provinces disappearing. This raises concerns about the need for measures to be taken.
( Credit to: Mk )
Gijang Anchovy Festival: A Delicious Tradition
( Credit to: Mk )
The Gijang Anchovy Festival, known as the nation's first seafood food festival, has been a beloved event since its inception in 1997. The festival aimed to promote the delicious 10 to 15 cm-long anchovy caught on the coast of Gijang in spring. However, due to growing financial burdens and an aging workforce, it has been decided that the 28th Gijang Anchovy Festival will not be held this year.
The festival relied on approximately 200 million won in funding each year, excluding the support from Gijang-gun. Despite attempts to secure expenses through sponsorships and booth operations, rising costs made it impossible to operate without incurring a deficit. Additionally, the aging of the women's association and youth association, responsible for preparing anchovy dishes and welcoming guests, limited the participation of local residents.
To address the challenges faced by festivals like the Gijang Anchovy Festival, tourism management expert Professor Choi Kyu-hwan suggests entrusting professional agencies with organizing festivals and creating diverse content. Improving the quality of festivals and allocating funds accordingly could also help overcome budget constraints.
Cherry Blossom Festival in Sangdomun Village: Fading Beauty
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Sangdomun Village, Sokcho, has been a picturesque event since 2009. The festival, held on the road of Seoraksan Mountain, attracted more than 10,000 people annually as the cherry trees formed a beautiful flower tunnel. Visitors enjoyed various activities, including rural culture experiences and children's drawing contests. However, the festival has now been abolished due to the inability of the village's women's association members, who are in their 70s and 80s, to continue organizing it.
Sangdomun Village, with more than half of its total population aged 65 or older, faced the challenge of an aging population that made it impossible to sustain the festival. This highlights the need for innovative solutions to preserve local traditions and engage younger generations in festival organization and participation.
Jeju Wildfire Festival: Controversies and Cancellations
The Jeju Wildfire Festival, known for its spectacular view of burning the entire oreum, was recognized as the 'Best Festival' in 2019. However, concerns over carbon emissions, wildfire risks, and environmental damage caused by the festival's core content led to its cancellation. Controversies surrounding environmental pollution caused by gunpowder and oil used in the festival, as well as concerns over forest fires, prompted Jeju City to decide not to hold the wildfire festival this year.
Jeju City is exploring alternative programs to replace the 'lighting' element of the festival, taking into account the social atmosphere and environmental impact. This showcases the importance of balancing cultural traditions with environmental sustainability when planning and organizing festivals.
Preserving Festivals: The Way Forward
Festivals play a vital role in promoting local culture, attracting tourists, and contributing to regional development. However, the challenges of aging populations and budget constraints require proactive measures to ensure their sustainability.
One solution proposed by tourism management expert Professor Choi Kyu-hwan is to entrust professional agencies with organizing festivals and creating diverse content. This would help alleviate the burden on local communities and ensure the quality of the events. Allocating funds accordingly and seeking sponsorships can also help overcome budget constraints.
Preserving festivals requires the active involvement of younger generations to ensure the continuation of traditions and the engagement of local communities. By finding innovative ways to involve the youth and addressing environmental concerns, festivals can adapt to changing times while still celebrating the unique cultural heritage of each region.