Summer festivals and sports events are being canceled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Local businesses that have already been dealing with sales decline because of the virus are losing hope.
Mike Laidman reports.

(도두 오래물) Dodu's Oraemul Square is usually crowded with children in swimsuits during Jeju's busy summer season.
This year, however, the square is only playing host to tourists. The water facilities which are usually here have not been installed.


The outdoor swimming pools that were planned for installation at the square, as well as the (도두 오래물) Dodu Oraemul Festival scheduled for early August, have both been cancelled.
The neighborhood this year is empty and quiet.


Restaurant and shop owners in the area are disappointed with the decision.
The festival cancellation will likely have a serious impact on their businesses, businesses which have already been facing a decline due to COVID-19.


Festivals organized by communities, including the (이호 태우) Iho Taewoo Beach Festival and the (삼양) Samyang Black Sand Festival scheduled for next month, have been cancelled.


The Leisure Sports Festival, organized by Jeju City, the (칠십리) Chilsimni Festival organized by Seogwipo City, the (밭담) Batdam Festival, featuring the island's stone walls, and the Pet Festival, organized by the province, have also all been canceled.



The series of cancellations is looking like it will have a significant impact on Jeju's economy.
However, there are so far no alternatives being discussed about how to alleviate some of the crunch.

Residents voicing their concerns that this series of cancellations will lead to severe damage to local businesses are growing louder, even though they are a part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

While the island waits for an answer that may never come, people can take some solace in the fact that the money allocated to the canceled festivals has been reassigned to fight the virus.

Mike Laidman, KCTV