Gangwon-do Province launches 2020 DMZ Peace Connection drive-in concert to boost local economy

코로나 극복, 'DMZ 평화이음 드라이브인 콘서트' 개최Since 2018, one of the premier cultural programs in Gangwon-do Province has been the DMZ Peace Connection concert.This year's edition was held over the weekend in Inje County, but because of the pandemic, this time it was a drive-in version.Our Eum Ji-young was there.The famous South Korean singer Lee Seung-chul has given more than 2,000 concerts since he debuted in 1986, and they're always packed. But Saturday was the first time he's performed in front of a parking lot full of cars."My team and I haven't been able to give concerts for a long time now because of the pandemic. We thought... we just can't go on like this, so we decided to try our first drive-in concert."He's singing at the 2020 DMZ Peace Connection Concert, held in Inje County, Gangwon-do Province. Because of this year's unique circumstances, it's at the Inje Speedium, a motor racing circuit, so there's room for the more than 1,500 people in the audience and their cars.They just have to watch through the windshield and tune their radios to the right frequency to listen.It's a different vibe, for sure."Not only did the artists have to think outside the box when interacting with the audience but the audience also showed their appreciation in creative ways."Instead of applauding, fans honked their car horns, switched on their windscreen wipers and flashed their headlights."I had more fun at today's drive-in than at a normal concert, and it was cool to communicate with the people on stage by flashing our headlights."As for the snacks and drinks, you order from your car, and you pay using special coupons issued only for Gangwon-do Province, which helps local businesses."People who come to the concert get local coupons in the amount they paid for their tickets. When they spend those in the region, it boosts the regional economy.""We've already bought some local specialties with the coupons, and we're planning to dine out with them too."The governor of Gangwon-do said the province plans to hold future events in a similar fomat to minimize physical contact during the outbreak.Eum Ji-young, Arirang News, Inje.