Busan Christmas Tree Festival to kick off on Dec. 18

▲This photo, provided by Jung-gu, shows the festival. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- One of the leading winter festival of Busan, Busan Christmas Tree Festival, which had run into a problem due to host's suspicion of embezzlement, will kick off starting December 18 as the local government has decided to personally hold the event.

Jung district, Busan announced on Tuesday that the festival will be held starting with "Gwangbok-ro Winterlight Tree Festival Lighting Ceremony" in front of cityspot of Gwangbok ro on Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Large size main tree will be set at city spot.

The District explained that the formation of tree which looks like gift boxes piled up, comfort this year and celebrate new year.

From the city spot to the four way section of International market, under the theme of "Road of Victory," lighting sculptures of flying flag and angel playing the horn will be placed.

Winter rose tunnel with four colors from city spot to old modern history museum, and sculpture of trembling river water from entrance of Gwangbok-ro to city spot will be set up.

Along with the tree festival, lighting sculptures under the theme of "Mountainside Romance" will be displayed from Bosoo-dong, Daecheong-dong, and 1.6 km section of Youngjoo-dong mountainside road.

For linked programs, "Music Lecture Concert," which sheds light on the life of Gum Soo-hyun and Lee Jung-seob who appears in Gum's song, at Gum Soo-hyun Music Salon, and Live concert that retraces 100 years of Korean songs, and etc. will be prepared.

Christmas Tree Festival anually takes place at the beginning of December, but their were some setbacks in schedule this year; festival is taking two weeks later than usual this year.

There was controversy over the festival's host as the doubts that the original host of the festival, religious group, had taken bribe was raised.

Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit of Busan Police Station has previously sent three officials of the religious group over the allegations of embezzlement last month.

Once the suspicion emerged to the surface, the district stopped the sponsoring to the group and has decided to host this year's festival.

The budget depleted this year with the change of host group to local government.

Initially, the festival was held with 550 million budget, Jung-gu office sponsored 200 million, Busan city 280 million, and the host religious group 70 million.

However, due to the accusation of embezzlement, Busan city completely cut off its support, and with 200 million more from Jung-gu, the festival was able to take place with 400 million budget.

An offical from Jung-gu said, "Since this year's festival has been pushed back, we will extend the event until January 29," adding, "We are speeding up the preparations for the festival as there are high expectations from merchants and citizens."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)

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