This week on Jeju: A to Z, Todd Thacker takes a brief look at one of the more unique festivals on Jeju that celebrates an important marine catch, the Yellowtail fish or bangeo.


For four days starting Nov. 29, people from all walks of life will fete the delicious and lucrative Yellowtail amberjack, one of three subspecies we see in Jeju waters.

Known as bangeo in Korean, this fish is especially important to people in and around the southwest coast at Moseulpo harbor and Marado Island, where the yellowtail migrate in winter.

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18th ‘Extreme South’ Bangeo Festival, Nov. 29 to Dec. 2

Each year, the organizers of Moseulpo’s ‘Extreme South’ Yellowtail Festival take great pains to make this a creative and inclusive event. Chances are you’ll find that it’s unlike any festival you’ll encounter elsewhere in the country.

The Yellowtail Festival is so popular, in fact, that though Moseulpo is almost as far south as one can go in South Korea, every year tens of thousands of people make their way here from all over. It is hands-on and geared to celebrate the senses, like wading knee-deep into a seawater pool for some barehanded fishing.

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Roasted or raw yellowtail, called “hoe,” is on offer

And when it comes to your taste buds, the festival doesn’t disappoint. The winter season, with its cold sea temperatures, makes this the best time to enjoy yellowtail protein. On offer are slices of raw yellowtail (raw fish is called hoe in Korean), as well as roasted yellowtail.

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www.bangeofestival.com

You can also collect your own shellfish and crab and cook them yourself at a specially set-up cooking area. Sample some of Jeju’s other special dishes at the festival, like galchi jorim (cutlass fish boiled in soy sauce and spices.)

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Todd Thacker

And of course there are plenty of educational programs and exhibitions to attend and learn more about the local ecosystem, the region’s history, culture, and marine trade. A daily farmer’s market is also a great idea to check out for great deals on local seafood, meat, produce, and more.

Todd Thacker KCTV