Crowd Control Safety Measures and Crackdown on Overcharging Planned
13 Teams Including Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Military Bands to Perform Demonstration
It seems that a feast of cherry blossoms will take place in Jinhae, Changwon.
Changwon City in Gyeongnam Province held the opening ceremony of the 62nd Jinhae Gunhangje, the largest cherry blossom festival in the country, at Jinhae Public Stadium.
The opening ceremony, held on the afternoon of the 22nd with numerous tourists, citizens, and distinguished guests in attendance, began with performances by the Beotsori Choir, the Machangjin Women’s Union Choir, and a pre-ceremony performance by the Navy Jinhae Base Command Military Band.
Following the opening declaration, a pre-registered proposal event was held, creating unforgettable memories for couples and touching the hearts of the audience. The congratulatory stages by popular singers such as Roy Kim, Jang Minho, Kyungseo Yeji & Jeon Geonho, Moon Chohee, Kim Yuseon, and Bae Jina raised the excitement of the opening ceremony.
Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon City, said in his welcoming speech, “We have made great efforts to ensure that everyone can safely enjoy the festival, so I hope tourists make many good memories during their stay,” adding, “We will continue to develop the Jinhae Gunhangje in Changwon, the center city of Northeast Asia, into a world-class Hallyu festival.”
The 62nd Jinhae Gunhangje will be held for ten days from the 23rd to April 1st under the theme “Spring Waltz! Shall We Love Our Cherry Blossoms?” across the Jinhae district, including Jungwon Rotary.
The main events include the Memorial Ceremony for Admiral Yi Sun-sin on the 23rd at 1:30 PM at Bukwon Rotary, and the Victory Parade on the 29th from 3 PM along the route from Bukwon Rotary to Jinhae Public Stadium.
The “Military Band and Honor Guard Festival” will be held for three days from the 29th to the 31st at Jinhae Public Stadium, starting with the opening ceremony on the 29th. Thirteen teams with 752 members, including the Republic of Korea Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, U.S. military bands, and Yeomgwang High School marching band, will showcase powerful marching performances and honor guard demonstrations.
Fringe performances by military bands and honor guards will also take place at Sangnam Fountain Square in Seongsan-gu on the 30th and at 3·15 Haeyang Nuri Park in Masanhappo-gu on the 31st.
On the 30th and 31st, a patriotic parade will march from 1:30 PM along the route from Bukwon Rotary to GS The Fresh Samgeori, Jehwangsan Intersection, Jungwon Rotary, and Jinhae Public Stadium.
At 2 PM on the 30th, the Air Force’s special flight team, the “Black Eagles,” will paint the Jinhae sky with a spectacular airshow.
The nights in Jinhae are also splendid. The Admiral Yi Sun-sin Victory Commemoration Maritime Fireworks Show will be held at 8 PM on the 27th in front of Jinhaeru over the sea. At Yeojuacheon, a starlight festival combining cherry blossoms and scenic lighting will be held throughout the festival period. At Jungwon Rotary, there will be a Cherry Blossom Local Food Market, and food trucks offering cherry blossom-themed foods will be set up at Jinhaeru and Gyeonghwa Station, presenting a variety of delicacies.
At Jungwon Rotary, K9 self-propelled howitzers, K1 tanks, and K808 wheeled armored vehicles produced by companies based in Changwon will be exhibited, showcasing the status of Changwon City as a leading city in Korea’s defense industry.
Especially during the Gunhangje period, military bases such as the Naval Academy and the Navy Jinhae Base Command, which are usually difficult to access, will be opened to the public. Various events to enjoy along with the cherry blossoms will be prepared, including ship tours (for pre-registered visitors), Turtle Ship boarding experiences, Navy photo exhibitions, and military uniform experiences.
The city expects about 4.5 million visitors to the Gunhangje this year and has prepared safety measures such as crowd management safety towers and public warning devices. To eradicate overcharging, a report center for overcharging has been set up at Jungwon Rotary, and a crackdown team will conduct thorough inspections during the festival period.
Temporary parking lots with about 11,800 spaces have been secured at military bases, schools, and government offices, and three free shuttle bus routes entering the festival site will operate at intervals of 5 to 20 minutes every weekend to minimize inconvenience for visitors and residents.
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