Heavy rain and strong winds are expected Sunday across the country, raising concerns over the closing concert, fireworks and laser show at the Mapo-naru Saeujeot Festival; singers Park Hyun-bin and Hong Jin-young are among those scheduled to perform
What is to be done?
The 19th Mapo-naru Saeujeot (salted shrimp) Festival is facing an unwelcome surprise on its final day. Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast nationwide for Sunday, when the closing concert, fireworks and other highlight events are scheduled, raising fears of disruption.
According to a Korea Meteorological Administration forecast issued Saturday, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds is expected across the country on Sunday. Attendance could drop as residents who had planned to enjoy the last day of the autumn festival stay home, and outdoor stage performances and side events may also be affected.
The stakes are particularly high for the Mapo-naru Saeujeot Festival, which has lined up a closing concert featuring well-known singers, fireworks and a laser show for its final day. Because the events are held outdoors, the format of performances and some programs could change depending on rainfall and wind speed.
On Sunday morning, a resident talent competition will take the main stage from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., a "pork, shrimp and kimchi bossam feast" — pairing pork wraps with salted shrimp and kimchi — is scheduled.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., a Mapo-gu Residents' Day ceremony and an awards presentation honoring distinguished residents will be held.
The festival's centerpiece is the closing concert, set to run from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Singers Park Hyun-bin, Hong Jin-young, Kim Yong-pil, Jeon Mi-kyung, Park Woo-cheol and Seo Ga-bi are scheduled to take the stage for a grand finale. Fireworks and a laser show are then planned to light up the autumn night and bring the festival to a close.
If the heavy rain and wind materialize, however, the outdoor concert and some programs — including the fireworks — could face complications. Organizers will be under growing pressure to ensure public safety while still seeing the planned events through without disruption.
All eyes are on how the three-day autumn festival will handle the weather on its final day. Whether the closing concert and fireworks go ahead as planned may ultimately depend on conditions on the ground.
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