The number of people reporting suspected food poisoning after visiting the Gimje Horizon Festival, one of Jeonbuk Province's signature events, has risen to 720. Of those, 91 are hospitalized for treatment. A week after the festival ended, reports are still coming in, prompting Gimje to launch an epidemiological investigation into the cause and prepare compensation measures for victims.
As of 10 a.m. on the 12th, a total of 720 festival visitors had reported suspected food poisoning symptoms, according to the city of Gimje and other sources. About five people first reported symptoms on the 5th, the final day of the festival that ran from the 1st through the 5th, and reports have continued through the 12th, a week after the closing.
Of those currently showing symptoms, 91 are hospitalized. Separately, 54 have completed inpatient treatment and been discharged.
Tests on hospitalized patients detected salmonella and several viruses. Salmonella was found in 32 patients and norovirus in one. Other viruses, including sapovirus, were detected in nine patients.
Most of those with symptoms were found to have eaten gimbap sold at a booth at the festival grounds. Some, however, had consumed other foods such as raw beef, so Gimje is also investigating those items. Detailed test results are expected around the 19th.
To determine the cause of the outbreak, Gimje collected samples from 13 workers involved in preparing and serving the food and submitted them for testing. Knives, cutting boards and other cooking implements used at the site were also collected and sent to the Jeonbuk Institute of Health and Environment for detailed analysis.
Under instructions from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the city also plans to conduct a reenactment test, preparing the food using the same implements that were used at the booth. The step is intended to identify the cause of the outbreak by examining the cooking conditions and the food at the time.
The city is also pursuing compensation for those affected and measures to prevent a recurrence. Gimje and the Horizon Festival Organizing Committee issued a written apology to visitors on the 9th as reports mounted.
"As the host organizations, we feel the weight of our responsibility and bow our heads in apology," they said in the statement. "We are deeply sorry for causing unexpected suffering and great inconvenience to those who came to the festival grounds to make happy memories with family and relatives."
They added that they would hold a meeting with loss adjusters to draw up compensation guidelines for visitors and would discuss measures to prevent a recurrence after hearing from relevant departments and agencies.