Illegal vendor at Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival allegedly sold chestnuts with stones
A controversy at the 25th Gwangyang Plum Blossom Festival in South Korea centers on a stall selling roasted chestnuts that allegedly contained stones. A festival-goer identified as A bought a bag of chestnuts, then posted a video showing three stones inside the bag. A said he opened the bag with excitement and found stones rather than chestnuts, and he recorded the incident to document his concern.
A told reporters he paid 10,000 won for the chestnuts and was given two local government vouchers, each worth 6,000 won, as change. He said there was no change returned for the 10,000-won purchase, amounting to a 2,000-won discrepancy in his account. He did not file a formal complaint at the time due to time constraints, but expressed disappointment and hoped the vouchers would be used for a good purpose.
The incident sparked a wave of social media commentary, with some commenters skeptical that it was a genuine mistake and others criticizing the handling of the change and the possibility of an exhibit-style item being substituted for a sale. Discussions also touched on the use of local government vouchers at the festival, with some questioning whether such vouchers function like currency during the event.
Gwangyang City subsequently confirmed that the stall involved was an illegal vendor operating outside an authorized area. It did not determine whether the stones were purposely inserted into the bag. City officials said they are treating the matter with seriousness, will verify the facts thoroughly, and will take appropriate measures. They also announced plans to intensify on-site inspections during the remaining period of the festival to minimize inconvenience for visitors.
Context: Gwangyang is a city in South Jeolla Province, and the festival is a regional event celebrating plum blossoms, drawing visitors from across the country and beyond. Roasted chestnuts and other local snacks are common festival offerings, and the use of municipal local vouchers is part of promoting regional commerce during such events.
Why this matters beyond Korea for U.S. readers: Large, popular festivals attract many tourists and rely on informal street vendors, which can raise consumer-protection and food-safety concerns for visitors from abroad. The episode highlights how local governments manage vendor licensing, regulate on-site commerce, and protect travelers from fraud or misbilling in crowded events. For U.S. travelers and businesses connected to Korean tourism or cross-border supply chains, the case underscores the importance of clear licensing, reliable payment methods, and transparent handling of complaints at major cultural events. It also illustrates how municipal voucher programs used to stimulate local spending can create complexities for consumers and enforcement agencies alike. The rest of the festival period will be watched to see how authorities respond and whether consumer protections are strengthened.