Introduction of 'Mascletta' Honoring Spanish Civil War Victims
Thousands of Fireworks for 5 Minutes... Focus on Loud Sounds over Visuals
Extreme Opinions on Loud Noise... District Considers Abolition
Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, saw sharply divided public opinions on the newly introduced 'Mascletta' at this year's Chungjang Festival, casting a shadow over its ambitious plan to make it a killer content.
The genre, which is somewhat unfamiliar in Korea and uses gunpowder and loud explosions, failed to gain consensus and received harsh criticism as 'noise pollution,' with some pointing out that preliminary surveys during the festival preparation stage were not conducted smoothly.
According to Dong-gu on the 25th, 'Mascletta' was held for five minutes from 2 p.m. on the 7th during the five-day '20th Gwangju Nostalgic Chungjang Festival' held from the 5th.
Mascletta is a traditional ceremony held every March at Spain's Valencia 'Las Fallas' festival, where thousands of fireworks are launched to honor the victims of the Spanish Civil War. This approximately five-minute fireworks event is known as Spain's top performance, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists to Valencia.
Dong-gu prepared this event with the meaning of transforming the pain of history on that day in May 1980 into festival cheers by creating a Gwangju-style 'Mascletta' at the Chungjang Festival, which has become a world-renowned street urban festival.
The district expected that the sound created by thousands of fireworks, not just the visual effects like a typical fireworks festival, would become a special memory.
However, perhaps because it was too loud, evaluations were sharply divided. On the 7th at 2 p.m., in front of the Jeonil Building at Geumnam-ro 1-ga where Mascletta took place, the loud explosions and smoke filled the area. Prior to this, Dong-gu had sent text messages to residents asking them not to be disturbed by the noise and smoke caused by the festival events.
While some citizens felt a sense of catharsis from the intense five-minute sound, many spectators were busy covering their ears with both hands, and children burst into tears. The sound was so loud that pregnant women and those with mental or physical vulnerabilities needed to be cautious while watching.
Moreover, some members of the generation who experienced the May 18 Gwangju Uprising reportedly recalled the time when the new military regime crushed citizens with guns and military boots, leading to psychological fear and trauma.
A spectator, Mr. Kim, said, "I came because I heard there would be a fireworks event, but I only had an unpleasant experience with ear-piercing noise and left," adding, "It might be an excellent event in terms of artistic value, but it is insufficient and difficult for the general public to enjoy."
Mr. Choi commented, "The Chungjang Festival, held every October with the theme of memories from the 70s and 80s, should be strictly distinguished from the May 18 Eve event," and evaluated, "Mascletta does not seem to fit the identity of the Chungjang Festival."
Given the situation, it is known that Dong-gu is currently reviewing whether to abolish 'Mascletta,' which was ambitiously prepared as the killer content of the Chungjang Festival.
A district official said, "Since there are opinions that it was a fresh and unique experience to enjoy a traditional Spanish festival in Korea, we are discussing whether to adjust the noise and continue it next year or abolish it completely."
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