Jeju "Tamna Cultural Festival" Faces 4,000-Won Gimbap Controversy
"There were differences in skill level"... Tourism credibility shaken again
The Tamna Cultural Festival, a signature event of Jeju's autumn festivities, has become embroiled in controversy. A photo of gimbap sold for 4,000 won per roll at the festival has spread across online communities, reigniting the debate over "price gouging."
On October 13, a post titled "4,000-won Gimbap at Jeju Tamna Cultural Festival" appeared on an online community, accompanied by a photo. The image showed gimbap containing only a few pieces of pickled radish, egg strips, and carrot. Most of the roll was rice, prompting criticism that it was "gimbap with no filling."
Some argued that it was unreasonable to conclude this gimbap was from the Tamna Cultural Festival based solely on the photo. However, as similar posts surfaced in other online communities, the controversy grew even further.
The original poster complained, "They wouldn't sell just one roll; you had to buy two for 8,000 won. They didn't even give out soup. Are they running the booth just to make a profit at the festival?" The poster also pointed out, "It was only recently that they were criticized for selling a few pieces of sundae for 20,000 won. How can this happen at a festival with so many foreign visitors?"
Netizens who saw the post criticized, "Convenience store gimbap is better," "Every festival seems to have one of these controversies," "Even frozen gimbap is better than this," and "They're damaging Jeju's tourism image themselves." Some made sarcastic jokes, saying, "At least they didn't skimp on the rice," "Rice prices are high these days, so they filled it with rice," and "For a pickled radish gimbap, that's a lot of ingredients."
Jeju City: "There were differences in skill level"... Tourism image takes another hit
Regarding the issue, a Jeju City official told JIBS Jeju Broadcasting, "The gimbap in the photo is a 'gimchobap' style. There were enough ingredients prepared, but since various residents were making them, there were discrepancies depending on their skill level. We will strengthen related training next time." The official added, "Sales of the problematic gimchobap were halted from October 13 due to weather and supply issues."
Previously, in April, Jeju faced a similar "price gouging" controversy when a plate of stir-fried sundae with six pieces was sold for 25,000 won at the King Cherry Blossom Festival.
In response, Jeju Province launched the "Jeju Tourism Innovation Emergency Committee" in June last year to improve its negative tourism image, and established the "Jeju Tourism Complaint Center" in July. The province has also operated the "Jeju Tourism Service Center" to promptly address tourist complaints such as price gouging. However, this latest controversy has once again shaken public trust in local festival prices.
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