A fall ocean festival where you can taste freshly strung Cham-gulbi (semi-dried yellow croaker), directly participate in yellow croaker auctions, and try bare-handed fish catching is being held in Chujado. The "18th Chujado Cham-gulbi Festival" will take place for three days from October 2 to 4 around the Chujado Cultural Performance Venue.

Organized by the Chuja-myeon Festival Committee (Chairman Lee Kang-goo), the festival runs under the slogan, "Island, Ocean, People, All Together to Chujado, the Island of Golden Nets!"

Centering around yellow croaker and Cham-gulbi, which are Chujado's representative marine products, the festival prepares experiential, performance, exhibition, and sales events to showcase the region's marine culture, natural scenery, and the lives of its residents.

Key programs include making gulbi, yellow croaker auction experiences, stringing gulbi, tidal flat shellfish gathering (barit-jabi), bare-handed fish catching, and a family fishing competition.

Visitors to the festival grounds can directly taste and purchase Chujado specialties such as gulbi, Spanish mackerel (samchi), and horned turban shells (ppul-sora), as well as experience Chujado's traditional marine product processing culture through gulbi-making activities.

Programs that people of all ages can enjoy together will continue, including exploring the Chujado Olle Trail, performances by local artists, seafood food events, prize draws, and a singing contest.

There are also plenty of sights to see. Marine boat parades, the sharing of traditional Gut-tteat (village ritual rice cakes), pungmul (traditional percussion) performances, wind instrument ensembles, performances by the Jeju Provincial Dance Company, island romantic healing concerts, and celebratory performances will take to the stage.

Promotional flag exhibitions will be held around the Chujuja-hang Port, the festival venue, and the Chuja-gyo Bridge, while a photo exhibition capturing the scenic views of Chujado will be held at the festival's promotional exhibition hall, allowing visitors to appreciate the beautiful landscape of the island.

Kim Jong-soo, Director of the Oceans and Fisheries Bureau of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, said, "I hope that residents and tourists will experience the deep taste of Chujado Cham-gulbi, the island's nature, and the warm affection of its people at the festival grounds," adding, "We will steadily expand support to enhance the competitiveness of local marine products, increase fishermen's income, and revitalize the local economy."

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