Beyond Memories into History Fourth Volume of Lives of People at Sea Is Published

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister MOON, Seong-Hyeok) announced the publication of the fourth volume of Lives of People at Sea, a book series about ordinary people who have encountered and overcome many tumultuous events while at sea.

The fourth volume describes the experiences of twelve fishermen dedicated to deep-sea fishing. It offers vivid portrayals of operations on Jinamho - Korea’s very first deep-sea fishing vessel, the traditional rituals carried out by the fishermen on board (ceremonies of crossing the equator, praying for a big catch, etc.), and other untold struggles and the unique culture of deep-sea fishermen revealed through the voices of those who have traveled to diverse global fishing grounds and remained at the forefront of deep-sea fishing.

As many of those engaging in the maritime and fisheries industries continue to age and their stories are on the verge of being lost, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries began to collect and record the oral histories of fishermen in 2018 through the Human Story Research Project commissioned to an outside partner. The Lives of People at Sea series is the product of this project and has been published annually since 2019.

From 2019 through 2020, the first three volumes of the series were published, featuring the stories of 48 interviewees including fishermen engaging in coastal fisheries such as aquaculture and hand fishing (2019) and those familiar with maritime rituals, cultural activities, and other long-standing yet endangered traditions (2020). By systematically recording and sharing the experiences of individuals through the publication, the Ministry seeks to help readers gain an easy understanding of the changes and milestones in the history of this primary industry.
In order to better capitalize on the outcomes of the Human Story Research Project, through which the lives of 60 people related to the maritime and fisheries industries were researched and their stories were collected, the Ministry has aggressively sought ways to publicize them as evidenced by the academic seminar held in association with the National Maritime Museum to discuss the staging of a special exhibition and the airing of an introductory program on TV.

Director General for Maritime Policy Lee, Cheol-Jo at the Ministry said, “It is critical to record and preserve the oral histories told by fishermen themselves, as those who remember the precious culture and experiences on the front lines continue to decrease. We expect the Lives of People at Sea series to provide momentum in recognizing the importance of the stories of ordinary people as our cultural legacy and serve as inspiration for diverse areas.”

This book will be distributed for free to the National Maritime Museum, National Ocean Science Museum, maritime-related institutions, and university libraries so that it can be utilized as an educational material for all. This book will also be posted on the website of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (www.mof.go.kr)* to ensure easy and convenient access for more readers.

*Website of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries: Policy Materials > Policy Information > Policy Bulletin > Maritime Policies