eFM News

Many local governments have decided to cancel their annual spring flower festivals this year due to fears of COVID-19 transmission.

The Gwangyang International Maehwa Festival, which takes place in the southwestern city every March to signal the start of spring, will be canceled for the second year in a row.

As part of its social distancing campaign, the city is discouraging people from visiting the area, which usually draws crowds for its vast fields of apricot blossom trees.

The Gurye Sansuyu Festival that takes place in the hot springs resort area of Mount Jiri in South Jeolla Province has also been called off amid the ongoing pandemic.

The southern port city of Busan has also decided to cancel its two landmark cherry blossom festivals hosted by the Sasang and Gangseo districts, respectively.

The city government of Changwon said it remains undecided about whether to cancel the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival, the nation`s biggest cherry blossom festival visited by up to 4 million tourists every March.

Last year, the festival was canceled for the first time in its 58-year history because of COVID-19.

The Jeju Fire Festival, a representative cultural event hosted by the southern resort island annually, will be held in a non-face-to-face method this year.

Jeju city plans to allow people to watch the festival's symbolic fire-setting event slated for March 13 in a drive-thru manner, with only 400 vehicles allowed.

Similarly, the Gimje Horizon Festival, a traditional farming festival hosted by the North Jeolla Province city, will be held in a non-face-to-face way, allowing farmers to still sell their local specialties.