Changwon City is set to hold its inaugural 'Lovers' Day' event at Rose Park on August 19, coinciding with the lunar festival Chilseok, in an effort to boost local commerce at the nearby Gaeumjeong Market.
The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rose Park in Seongsan District, according to an announcement made on August 18.
This initiative aims to modernize the significance of Chilseok and encourage visitors to utilize Gaeumjeong Market.
On the day of the event, cultural performances will kick off the festivities, followed by a flea market featuring local artists and residents. There will also be interactive booths themed around Chilseok, including a telepathy game and a couple's challenge, designed for couples and families.
'Lovers' Day' is part of a cultural tourism market development project that Gaeumjeong Market was selected for earlier this year. This project, which spans two years with a budget of up to 1 billion won, has allocated 400 million won for this year. It includes eight initiatives such as night markets, children's shopping events, and merchant training. Approximately 21.65 million won has been invested in the 'Lovers' Day' event.
After the event concludes at 9 p.m., around 40 shops, primarily restaurants and bars in Gaeumjeong Market, will remain open to encourage visitors to explore the market.
However, there are no specific programs linking Rose Park and Gaeumjeong Market directly. Although the two locations are about a 10-minute walk apart, the event does not include programs like stamp tours or market discount coupons to draw visitors to the market.
Participation from market vendors at the event has also been limited. Many of the over 160 shops in Gaeumjeong Market are operated by individual owners, making it difficult for them to leave their businesses. Only two or three shops, such as dried fish vendors, are expected to participate in the flea market.
The city plans to review the results of this year's event to consider future locations and methods for linking the event with the market. A city official stated, “This year, we chose the venue considering the atmosphere of Rose Park. Starting next year, we are discussing the possibility of holding the event within the market to align with the goal of revitalizing the local economy.”
Cho Sung-hwan, head of the Economic and Job Department of Changwon City, remarked, “We will work to encourage visitors to stay longer and spend more, thereby helping to revitalize the local economy.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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