Claimed to be Eco-Friendly... 47,000 Pieces of Trash Generated in Just 1 Hour

"Jeonju Bibimbap Festival's Claim of Eco-Friendliness Deemed Meaningless" Criticism

"Most of the promotional fans and wet tissues given to visitors were discarded as trash."

Claims have emerged that a massive amount of waste was generated at the Bibimbap Festival, which marked the opening of the integrated festival 'Jeonju Festa 2024.'

Jeonju Bibimbap mixed by 1,963 people, registered in the Korean records
[Photo by Jeonju City / Yonhap News]

On the 15th, Yonhap News cited the Jeonbuk Citizens' Joint Action for a Waste-Free Festival (hereafter Joint Action) reporting that about 47,000 pieces of trash were produced within an hour at the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival held from the 3rd to the 6th at Jeonju Sports Complex.

The Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Federation pointed out, "Mayor Woo Beom-gi emphasized the 'eco-friendly food' aspect of the large-scale Bibimbap performance involving 1,963 participants, but an enormous amount of waste was generated during the process."

At the time, participants were provided with disposable hats, aprons, gloves, and plastic bags, and additionally received disposable spoons, chopsticks, wet tissues, and beverages in plastic containers.

They criticized that due to the disposable items used in the large-scale Bibimbap performance, the efforts of participants and citizens to use reusable containers during the festival were in vain.

They further claimed, "By providing each of the 1,963 participants with disposable hats, aprons, spoons, as well as plastic bags and beverages in plastic containers, approximately 19,630 pieces of trash were generated."

Moreover, "Since there was no water purifier at the festival site, both officials and visitors had to use disposable bottled water," they added. "Jeonju City must establish guidelines and a waste reduction plan for future waste-free festivals."