"Event Venue 'Empty', Cold Wind 'Blowing'... No People Around"

Wando Autumn Festival Sees Sharp Decline in Visits from Locals and Tourists

Wando County and local social organizations, which held autumn events this year, are experiencing unprecedented sluggishness rather than benefiting from the event boom.

According to Wando County on the 28th, the county and local social organizations held various events, including the ‘Gogeum Yuja Festival,’ targeting residents and tourists on the 26th to welcome the autumn season.

This year’s autumn events were held in various forms, including ▲Autumn Concert with Jang Bogo ▲Jang Bogo Ujjang Event ▲Wando Arboretum Green Forest Festival ▲Clean Wando Autumn Island Tour ▲Gogeum Yuja Festival ▲Traditional Night Market.

Some audience members attending the 'Autumn Concert with Jang Bogo,' hosted by the Jang Bogo Research Association, are watching the performance, while most of the seats remain empty.
[Photo by Reader Provided]

However, the number of visitors to the event venues significantly decreased compared to previous years, resulting in an overall quiet atmosphere. Although some venues attracted visitors through active promotion, it was difficult to find the bustling scenes typical of previous years.

However, the ‘Gogeum Yuja Festival,’ held together with Gogeum Residents’ Day, reportedly attracted about 3,000 visitors and enjoyed a prosperous turnout.

Earlier, Wando County planted 30,000 chrysanthemums around the Sinji Marine Healing Center to attract tourists to the ‘Clean Wando Autumn Island Tour’ festival. They also held a chrysanthemum exhibition, marine healing and barefoot walking experiences, Cheongsando Milky Way Tour, concerts, and busking performances.

However, the initial expectation that many visitors would come was not met. Last year’s ‘Wando Autumn Island Tour’ attracted residents of Wando-eup and tourists, but this year, it faced criticism for poor accessibility and failed to mobilize visitors.

An official from Wando County said, “Although the event was held around the Marine Healing Center in connection with the Chrysanthemum Festival, there were limitations due to poor accessibility,” adding, “It is regrettable because the effect would have been better if the chrysanthemums had fully bloomed.”

The event that suffered the most from the failure to attract an audience was the ‘Autumn Concert with Jang Bogo.’ Some local residents expressed regret, saying they were not even aware that the concert was held. Supported by the Jeonnam Cultural Foundation and promoted by the ‘Jang Bogo Research Association,’ the concert was criticized for having more orchestra members performing than audience members.

Resident A said, “I think the promotion was absolutely insufficient. The seats at the ‘Autumn Concert with Jang Bogo’ were too empty, which was disappointing,” and added, “I hope proper promotion will be carried out in the future instead of wasting the budget.”