Mounds of garbage are strewn around the public toilets of Uiam Park in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on the morning of 8 April. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHUNCHEON, Apr. 8 (Korea Bizwire) –The gentle breezes and sunny skies over the weekend drew crowds to admire the cherry blossoms along the Gongji Stream in downtown Chuncheon. But their festive picnics left Uidam Park strewn with trash on Monday morning.
At 6 a.m., the park showed unmistakable signs of late-night revelry the night before — abandoned picnic mats, disposable cups, delivery food containers and emptied beer and soda cans littered the grounds.
Cigarette butts were scattered across the lawns where visitors had been smoking. One group even dragged a convenience store chair onto the grass, broke a leg off, and left it behind.
The treasured public green space, meant for residents’ relaxation, was soiled by leftover ramen broth, snack wrappings and more cigarette litter.
Near the restrooms, a mound of collected trash including shattered glass evoked the metaphorical “broken windows” inviting further disorder and littering.
While some had at least finished eating before leaving packages behind, plenty of half-eaten instant noodles, restaurant meals, snacks and coffees released pungent aromas into the air.
Duck boats and people enjoying the blooming cherry blossoms along Uiam Lake in Chuncheon City, Gangwon Province, on April 7. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The designated recycling areas were equally inundated. Despite signage urging “Your act of separate disposal is beautiful,” garbage mixed indiscriminately, spilling out beyond the bins.
Trash was piled in layers by the recycling zone, giving off a foul stench.
“It’s fine to enjoy food and drinks, but in a public space used by many citizens, it would be good to maintain basic manners by taking your litter with you when leaving,” remarked one local resident out for a morning stroll amid the mess.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
