This Spring, No 'Gijang Miyeok and Dashima Festival'... Busan Gijang-gun Decides to Cancel the Festival

The Charming Work Song of Daebyeonhang Fishermen and the Exquisite Scene of 'Myeolchitoli' Postponed to Next Year

Instead, Promotion Encouraged for Local Specialty 'Contactless Orders' via Gijang-gun Website

Busan Gijang County Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] This spring, you will again be unable to enjoy the festival where fishermen at Daebyeon Port shake off anchovies caught in their nets to the rhythm of traditional labor songs.

The ‘Miyeok (Seaweed) and Dasima (Kelp) Festival,’ a representative seafood festival of Gijang-gun, Busan, has been canceled due to COVID-19.

Following the anchovy festival, which attracted tourists nationwide in spring, the ‘11th Gijang Miyeok and Dasima Festival’ has also been halted.

Gijang-gun and the festival organizing committee announced on the 20th that the ‘11th Gijang Miyeok and Dasima Festival,’ scheduled for April 2021, has been canceled to protect the safety of residents and tourists amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for the second consecutive year.

The Gijang Miyeok and Dasima Festival began in 2008 as the 1st event after Gijang-gun was designated as the Gijang Miyeok and Dasima Special Zone in 2007 to promote local specialties. The festival continued annually until the 10th event in 2019. The festival gained nationwide popularity, with visitors increasing each year, reaching 80,000 in 2019.

A Gijang-gun official said, “Due to concerns over the fourth wave of COVID-19, we had no choice but to cancel the festival. We hope COVID-19 will end soon so that people can enjoy the Gijang Miyeok and Dasima Festival next year.”

Instead of the festival, Gijang-gun is encouraging non-contact orders to promote the sales of miyeok and dasima.

To revive the stagnant local economy, they are actively promoting packaging orders, delivery orders, and drive-through order methods. For those wishing to purchase Gijang miyeok and dasima, a list of sellers is available on the Gijang-gun official website.