Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Traditional Beach Performance Festival in Busan, South Korea: An Example from the Gwangalli-Eobang Festival.

Choo, Nayoung; Han, Joon Young

Choo, N. and Han, J.Y., 2023. Evaluating the effectiveness of a traditional beach festival in Busan, South Korea: An example from the Gwangalli-Eobang Festival. In: Lee, J.L.; Lee, H.; Min, B.I.; Chang, J.-I.; Cho, G.T.; Yoon, J.-S., and Lee, J. (eds.), Multidisciplinary Approaches to Coastal and Marine Management. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 116, pp. 498-502. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. This study explores the significance of local festivals in promoting tourism and preserving traditional culture. Busan, a city in South Korea, invests in creating and expanding tourism resources, and the region hosts over 70 festivals annually, which are considered vital in fostering a sense of community, increasing local participation, and reviving the local economy. The Gwangalli-Eobang Festival, Busan's flagship beach event, is analyzed as a case study to explore the factors that contribute to its success. The festival embodies the concept of mutual growth and has been recognized as Busan's exclusive cultural tourism event. However, not all traditional festivals enjoy a positive reputation, and some have been criticized for their lack of social foundations, uniform content, and absence of regional distinctiveness. The study examines the success factors of the Gwangalli-Eobang Festival and explores the direction for preserving traditional culture. The study employs analytical frameworks based on Cho (2013), Han (2005), and Lee (2009) to provide a comprehensive assessment of the success of local festivals. The study highlights the importance of adapting and responding swiftly to the rapid pace of social and environmental changes to manage the festival successfully. The study also emphasizes the importance of providing historical preservation, participation, visitor experience, accessibility, diversity, and economic sustainability. Overall, the study provides insight into the value and usefulness of local beach infrastructure, the significance of transmitting education utilizing intangible cultural assets, and the continued planning of festivals promoting cultural tourism and benefiting the community.

BUSAN (Korea); BEACHES; SUSTAINABLE development; FESTIVALS; HERITAGE tourism; EVENT tourism; COASTAL zone management

Journal of Coastal Research, 2023, Vol 116, p498

0749-0208

Academic Journal

10.2112/JCR-SI116-101.1