Baek Jong-won, head of The Born Korea, recently organized his first seafood festival called “Fisherman’s Market” in Tongyeong. However, the festival received a flood of complaints from visitors right from the first day due to the heavy rain brought by Typhoon Kong-Rey and inadequate event management.
Baek Jong-won apologized in response to the growing controversy. On November 4, through a comment on his YouTube channel, he expressed, “I sincerely apologize to the many people who visited the Tongyeong Fisherman’s Market Festival. We failed to prepare proper rain canopies during the severe weather, causing inconvenience, and made visitors wait a long time to enter and purchase food. I deeply apologize for the discomfort experienced during this festival.”
Additionally, he announced, “To convey our sincere apologies, we are preparing an apology video with The Born Korea and Tongyeong City, which we will share soon. We will take the lessons learned from this festival to ensure future events are more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.”
The festival was held from November 1 to 3 at Tongyeong Triathlon Square. Yet, the severe rain on the first day due to Typhoon Kong-Rey resulted in multiple complaints. One attendee mentioned, “It was raining, and there was no tent, so I got soaked while waiting and eating.”
Further criticism included the inadequate event control. Visitors faced long waits for ordering food and a lack of available seating, leading to disappointment. Many commented that the quality of the food was subpar, and the event was poorly managed.
Comments also appeared on Baek’s YouTube channel, with some criticizing the festival’s execution and its impact on Tongyeong’s image. However, other netizens defended Baek, suggesting that the issues should be directed toward the Tongyeong mayor and expressing appreciation for Baek’s efforts.