"Do Not Join in Spreading Unverified Rumors"
Local Merchants Put Up Banners to Voice Their Suffering
Yangyang County in Gangwon Province, which has become famous as a 'surfing mecca,' is suffering from malicious rumors. Local merchants are voicing their grievances, saying that rumors related to nightlife and crime are damaging the region's image and have even led to a real decrease in visitors.
Banners put up by local merchants near Inguhai Beach in Hyeonnam-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon. Photo by Yonhap News
On July 23, Yonhap News reported, "More than ten banners with phrases such as 'Yangyang is being criticized due to distorted stories around Ingu Beach in Hyeonnam-myeon, Yangyang County,' and 'Fake news is hurting Yangyang,' have been put up in the area."
The banners refute the nightlife-related rumors about Yangyang that have spread online and claim that some of these allegations are the result of public opinion manipulation by certain groups. It is known that nearby merchants voluntarily put up these banners.
The video linked through the QR code on the banners states that the rumor, 'A woman who visited Yangyang's surfing beach was sexually assaulted by a Black man,' is false and that a specific group intentionally spread this story.
In recent years, there have been indications that false information and malicious rumors about Yangyang have been systematically spread, mainly through online communities and social networking services (SNS). Yangyang County has announced plans to file criminal complaints against those spreading false information for defamation and obstruction of business, citing damage to the region's image caused by the spread of such rumors.
However, local merchants continue to suffer due to these rumors. While it is true that the recovery in demand for overseas travel has led to a decrease in tourists, the rumors circulating online have further accelerated this decline in visitor numbers.
According to the Global Headquarters of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, 804,854 people visited Yangyang's beaches last year. This was a 4.9% increase from the previous year, but it was the lowest growth rate among the six cities and counties along the East Coast of Gangwon.
Mr. A, who runs a restaurant nearby, told Yonhap News, "There may be various reasons why Ingu Beach is not as popular as it used to be, but the negative image attached to Yangyang, such as nightlife and drugs, could be one of them. A few years ago, the roads were so crowded with cars that you could barely drive, but since last year, the number of visitors has been decreasing."
However, since the banners were put up without following proper procedures, they are expected to be taken down soon. An official from the county said, "We understand the merchants' frustration, but since the banners damage the appearance of the resort area during the summer season and were not put up through legal procedures, removal is unavoidable."
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