During Vacation Season, 1,500 Daily Visitors... Monorail Overcapacity Causes Visitor 'Eomatsal'
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] As the peak vacation season begins, numerous vacationers are flocking to the Yeongsang Theme Park in Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam, where the monorail resembles a crowded bus during rush hour.
Visitors, accustomed to the COVID-19 guidelines, are taken aback by scenes reminiscent of a packed bus during rush hour.
Despite flooding in the central region, the southern region continues to experience a heatwave, and about 1,500 people visited Hapcheon Yeongsang Theme Park in one day on the 4th. On weekends, the number easily exceeds 2,500. The park’s famous monorail operates two units consecutively at 18-minute intervals.
The theme park operator had prohibited visitors without masks from boarding the monorail until last month to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They also conducted temperature checks before boarding and showed efforts to maintain 'social distancing in daily life.'
However, as the full vacation season began, the atmosphere changed noticeably. People, regardless of age, are allowed to board freely.
A monorail passenger who visited on the 4th said, "I came here with my children, but it was frustrating to see people being packed in so tightly. I understand the crowds during vacation season, but what good are the quarantine rules if this continues?"
A theme park official explained, "During the busy vacation season, if we split the monorail rides, the waiting time becomes longer, increasing complaints from those waiting. Although the COVID-19 situation is difficult, we disinfect the inside of the monorail after each operation to thoroughly prepare for any situation."
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