On December 17, 2025, a communal meeting took place at the Gyeongdong Center in Gapyeong County, where residents prepared and consumed food together. The following day, numerous attendees began experiencing symptoms of food poisoning, including severe diarrhea and high fever. Out of 128 participants, 50 reported symptoms, leading to 16 needing hospital treatment. While local media focused on the outbreak and its health implications, the Gapyeong County government attempted to reframe the situation positively, highlighting the rapid response of local officials as praiseworthy. The county's proactive measures included immediate epidemiological investigations upon notification of the food poisoning cases. The health department collected human and environmental samples for testing, which revealed the presence of Salmonella bacteria. Moreover, the county faced criticism for trying to promote the incident as a 'good story' to divert attention from the numerous health complications experienced by residents, shedding light on the incongruence between the official narrative and public sentiment. The Gapyeong County government emphasized its administrative support, noting that they provided transportation assistance for affected residents to access medical care, which is considered a lack of accessibility in rural areas like the Jeokmokri region. While local authorities viewed this as an efficient administrative response guided by patient welfare, the surrounding critique of this reframing indicates ongoing tensions between local governance and community health outcomes, highlighting the need for transparent communication and responsible reporting of health crises in local news.