Two Jeju festivals that drew public criticism last year for price gouging have been dropped from the provincial government's designated festival program.
The Jeju Provincial Government announced on the 6th that its Festival Promotion Committee evaluated 28 local festivals and selected 11 as designated festivals for 2026.
The evaluation covered 28 festivals in total, including 10 regional festivals and 18 local festivals. The top 11 were selected as designated festivals.
Regional festivals selected include the Seogwipo Canola Flower Festival, Seongsan Sunrise Festival, and Tamna Kingdom Ipchun Gut. Local festivals selected include the Gomaro Horse Culture Festival, Geumneung Wondam Festival, Bomok Jaridom Festival, Sanjicheon Festival, Udo Conch Festival, Iho Teu Festival, Chujado Dried Yellow Corvina Festival, and Hallasan Clean Bracken Festival.
However, the Tamna Cultural Festival and Jeonnong-ro King Cherry Blossom Festival, which were designated festivals last year, were excluded from this year's evaluation.
Both festivals faced criticism from tourists and online communities last year over food pricing controversies.
At the Tamna Cultural Festival, gimbap with meager fillings was sold for 4,000 won per roll. At the Jeonnong-ro King Cherry Blossom Festival, stir-fried sundae containing just six pieces was sold for 25,000 won, sparking widespread accusations of price gouging.
Subsidies Cut and Reselection Restricted as Evaluation Standards Tighten
The exclusion from the designated festival list brings changes to financial support.
For the Jeonnong-ro King Cherry Blossom Festival, the subsidy rate for the 2027 budget will drop from 100% to 70%, and the festival will no longer receive incentive payments. The Tamna Cultural Festival, operated as a privately commissioned project, faces no direct budget penalties but is excluded from incentive payments.
Jeju Province has also recently tightened festival evaluation standards.
If the Festival Promotion Committee decides to exclude a festival due to social controversies such as price gouging, the festival is immediately removed from that year's designated festival evaluation.
Festivals excluded from the designated list may still apply for subsidies but face a penalty limiting support to a maximum of 50%.
Additionally, festivals subject to immediate removal are barred from reselection evaluations for three years.
Penalty point standards have also been strengthened. The maximum deduction increased from 3 points to 15 points. Social controversies such as price gouging result in deductions of up to 7 points. Excessive budget spending on celebrity appearances carries deductions of up to 4 points, as does operating programs that undermine the festival's identity.