![[단독] “Why are we only leaving department stores?” Protest rally on the 23rd](https://pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202012/23/3b20910e-7c2f-4af1-8d71-99a793d55fc0.jpg "[단독] “Why are we only leaving department stores?” Protest rally on the 23rd")
The government announced plans to suspend ski resort operations for 11 days from the 24th to January 3rd next year. The 16 ski resorts nationwide said, “It is difficult to convince that indoor dense facilities such as theme parks and department stores are allowed to operate, and that only ski resorts have been picked up and discontinued.” [연합뉴스]
On the 22nd, according to the government’s special quarantine measures, ski resorts across the country, which were decided to suspend business during the year-end and New Year holidays, were strongly opposed to the government’s measures. In addition, the Gangwon-do region ski resort staff and nearby merchants decided to hold a revolt against the government’s actions on the 23rd.
The Korea Ski Resort Management Association (CEO Shin Dal-soon, CEO of Yongpyong Resort), which has 16 ski resorts nationwide as members, held an emergency response meeting with the management of eight ski resorts on the afternoon of the 22nd, saying, “Ski, which is an outdoor sport, is less likely to be crowded than other sports. He said, “I am concerned about enormous damage by taking measures to stop the business,” he said. “This measure is a way to pass on the pain to ordinary people such as small self-employed and daily workers around the ski resort.”
The association said in its position, “It is unreasonable to stop the operation of relatively safe ski resorts with the exception of department stores, indoor/outdoor amusement parks, and theme parks, which are collective facilities. The decision was made.”
The Korea Ski Resort Management Association was established in 1990 and is a member of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. There are 16 ski resorts nationwide, including Yongpyong Resort, the association’s president, High1 Resort, Phoenix Pyeongchang, and Konjiam Resort. This is the first time since the association’s founding that the association has officially refuted government policies.
The association’s secretary general, Won-deuk Cho, also delivered news of the holding of a revolt of ski resort staff and merchants. According to Director Cho, a revolt will be held at 11 am on the 23rd at Welli Hilli Park in Hoengseong, Gangwon-do, criticizing the government’s actions. Fifty to 100 daily workers working at the ski resorts in Hoengseong and Pyeongchang areas and merchants near the ski resorts will participate.
Reporter Choi Seung-pyo [email protected]