After the Jeju Air plane crash that killed 179 people at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province (South Korea), entertainment events at the end of 2024 and welcoming the new year 2025 were canceled one after another.
On the afternoon of December 30, Jeju officials held a meeting to decide to cancel the 32nd Seongsan Sunrise Festival, scheduled to take place on December 31 and January 1, 2025. Previously, the festival was expected to take place as planned with a reduced number of events, but the event was eventually canceled because South Korea is in a period of national mourning, according to Chosun Biz.
Since the Seongsan Sunrise Festival is canceled, the event to conquer the peak at night to catch the sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong will also not be held.
In addition, Jeju City also decided not to hold the year-end bell ringing event scheduled for December 31.
“I wish the victims peace and send my deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families,” Jeju Mayor Kim Wan-geun said. “We will share the pain of the families who are experiencing sudden grief with the people of Jeju.”
Seogwipo City has also decided to cancel the 26th “Seogwipo Winter International Penguin Swimming Competition,” scheduled to be held at Jungmun Saekdal Beach on January 1, 2025.
This is an annual winter sea diving event to pray for health and hope for the new year, but the festival taking place at this time is considered inappropriate because Korea is in a period of national mourning.
Jeongeup City has decided to cancel the “Sunset Festival” scheduled for December 31, which is a traditional festival held on the last day of the year to pray for peace in the new year. In addition, the Amber Pure Hill Hotel & Resort also announced that it will not hold a countdown party to welcome the new year 2025.
Hotels in Jeju have also announced that they will not hold countdown events to welcome the new year 2025.
Authorities in neighboring regions, including Jeonju, Gwangju and South Jeolla, canceled celebratory events to express condolences to the victims of the accident.
Other major cities and counties have also canceled celebrations.
Pohang, Gyeongju, Sejong, Cheonan, Buyeo County and Taean County announced on Monday that they had canceled events, including New Year's Eve celebrations, considering declaring national mourning.
The Seoul government held an emergency meeting on the morning of December 30, where it is discussing canceling or scaling back year-end events, according to local media.
The capital districts of Dobong, Gwangjin, Mapo, Songpa, Yangcheon, Gangbuk and Seodaemun have canceled their events, including countdown concerts and sunrise festivals.
In addition, the Jeju Tourism Association is still considering holding events to welcome first-time visitors to Jeju at the beginning of the new year.
Earlier, at around 9:00 a.m. on December 29, Jeju Air flight 7C2216 departing from Bangkok (Thailand) carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew members skidded off the runway while landing at Muan International Airport, South Jeolla, South Korea. The plane crash killed 179 people and became one of the largest aviation disasters in the history of this country.
