Decision delayed on hosting World Island Festival
Provincial government opts to wait until after local elections next year

The provincial government has delayed a decision on whether to host the World Island Festival until after next year’s local elections.

The province has polled area residents twice on the issue. The first time, 81 percent of respondents were in favor. That support fell to 54 percent the second time.

Although a majority of respondents still support the idea, local officials put off the decision because there are a considerable number of people opposed. Critics say the island already has enough festivals, that this one would require too much preparation, and there’s no good reason for the island to host it.

Officials say they ultimately concluded that there was no need to make a decision that would spark a backlash and become an issue in next year’s elections and that the conditions weren’t right to make a decision.

In August 2016, Governor Won Heeryong promised to host the festival again in 2018 as part of plans to develop Jeju into an island of culture and art. The World Island Festival was last held here in 2001.

“섬문화축제 개최 여부 지방선거 이후 논의”

제주특별자치도가 세계섬문화축제 개최 여부를 내년 지방선거 이후에 논의하기로 했습니다.

그동안 두차례의 설문조사결과 1차 81%, 2차 54%의 찬성 의견이 나왔지만 기존축제 활성화와 충분한 사전준비 필요, 개최당위성 부족 등으로 필요하지 않거나
모르겠다는 응답도 만만치 않아 이같이 결정했다고 밝혔습니다.

또 내년 지방선거에서의 불필요한 논란 가능성과 현재 여건도 갖춰지지 않았다고 판단해 개최여부를 내년 지방선거 이후로 미뤘다고 덧붙혔습니다.

원희룡 지사는 지난 2016년 8월, 민선 6기 제주 문화예술의 섬 추진에 대한 청사진을 공개하면서 지난 2001년 이후 중단된 세계섬문화축제를 오는 2018년에 다시 개최하겠다는 의지를 밝힌 바 있습니다.