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Selecting Marine Products, Travel Destination Fishing Villages, Marine Lives, Lighthouses, and Uninhabited Island of the Month for March

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    2026.03.11.

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Selecting Marine Products, Travel Destination Fishing Villages, Marine Lives, Lighthouses, and Uninhabited Island of the Month for March
- MOF selected flatfish and sea squirt as this month's marine products, Kenmuri Village in Incheon’s Jung-gu and Gunsan’s Shinsido Village in Jeonbuk Province as travel destination fishing villages of the month, white-toothed lugworm as marine life of the month, Daejin Port’s South Breakwater Lighthouse as lighthouse of the month, and Suryeongyeo as uninhabited island of the month.

  ① Marine Products of the Month – Flatfish and Sea Squirt

  MOF selected flatfish and sea squirt as the marine products of the month for March.

The flatfish is a species of fish belonging to the flounder family of the flounder order. It has both eyes slanted to one side and lives close to the bottom in search of food. Rich in essential amino acids such as leucine and lysine, this high-protein, low-fat food is good for dieting and known to help improve physical strength. Koreans enjoy it in various dishes such as raw fish and spicy fish stew, but flatfish mugwort soup made by boiling flatfish with fragrant spring mugwort is considered a leading spring delicacy.

Known as mung-gae, sea squirt is another name for urong-sseong-i; the name is now used together with the standard language in the southern coastal region. Wild sea squirts have relatively larger and more distinct protrusions compared to farmed ones, with the attachment area (root-like structure) at the bottom of the body often well-developed. Sea squirts are rich in iron and selenium—which help prevent anemia and support aging—and in vitamin A, which supports eye health and skin elasticity. They were often served as a side dish with raw fish in the past but have recently become a main ingredient in various dishes especially in mung-gae bibimbap, the regional specialty menu.

Anyone can find detailed information on marine products particularly seafood, including this month's seafood—flounder and sea squirt—on the website of Eosik Baekse (https://blog.naver.com/korfish01).
 

② Travel Destination Fishing Village of the Month – Keunmuri Village in Jung-gu, Incheon and Shinsido Village in Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province

  MOF selected Keunmuri Village in Jung-gu, Incheon and Shinsido Village in Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province as travel destination fishing villages of the month for March.

  Keunmuri Village is a place where one can enjoy the West Sea tidal flats close to the metropolitan area. People can enjoy mudflat experiences and sea fishing on the uninhabited island off the village, offering a comfortable respite for travelers who are tired of urban life. A sandy path appears from Silmi Beach near the village at low tide, allowing people to walk to Silmido Island in about 10 minutes. However, they should check in advance since the tide times vary daily. After the experience, it is nice to end the journey by looking out at the sea at a nearby cafe.

  Shinsido Village in Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province is the largest island in the Gogunsan Archipelago. With its well-maintained walking path, the Shinshi Observatory boasts of a picturesque ocean view. The mudflat of Sinsido Island has a large tidal range, creating an excellent environment for various creatures to thrive. The Manila clams harvested here are known for their large size and clean, savory flavor. It is also famous for its one-night, three-meal guesthouses directly run by local residents, allowing visitors to complete their one-night stay on the island by taking care of experiences, meals, and rest all at once.

  Detailed tourism information on the travel destination fishing villages of the month for March can be found on the Sea Travel website (www.seantour.kr).
 

③ Marine Life of the Month – White-toothed Lugworm


  MOF selected the white-toothed lugworm (Paraleonnates uschakovi) as the marine creature of the month for March.

  The white-toothed lugworm is an Asian species mainly found along the coasts of China and Thailand. In Korea, its distribution is limited to the upper tidal flats of the west and south coasts. It primarily feeds on diatoms (microalgae) attached to the mudflat surface. With a body length of up to 2 meters, it is the longest species of polychaete in Korea.

   White-toothed lugworms play an important role in the tidal flat ecosystem. They help purify the tidal flats by decomposing organic matter and promote nutrition by digging multiple tunnels to allow oxygen and various substances to circulate. These actions help maintain the ecological health of tidal flats and ensure the sustainability of the marine ecosystem.

  However, the population of the white-toothed lugworm is rapidly declining due to the reclamation of tidal flats for coastal development and overfishing for use as fishing bait. Accordingly, MOF has designated the white-toothed lugworm as a marine protected species since 2016, working hard to conserve and manage it.

  Information on various marine lives including the white-toothed lugworm as the marine life of the month is available on the Marine Life Resources Integrated Information System website (https://www.mbris.kr) and the Marine Environment Information portal (https://www.meis.go.kr).
 

④ Lighthouse of the Month – Daejin Port's South Breakwater Lighthouse


  MOF selected Daejin Port’s South Breakwater Lighthouse located in Yeonghae-myeon, Yeongdeok-gun, Gyeongbuk Province as lighthouse of the month for March. This lighthouse was first installed in 2004, serving as a safety guide for ships entering and leaving Daejin Port by flashing a green light every 5 seconds.

  Since its designation as a national fishing port in 1971, Daejin Port has been an important foundation for local fishermen's livelihoods and has been reborn as a fishing and tourism attraction through a large-scale development project including the construction of a marine observatory scheduled for 2024. The newly created Whale Observatory in Daejin Port has a unique shape that resembles a whale spouting water, and a person standing at the end of the observatory can take in the refreshing scenery of the East Sea at a glance.

  As winter draws to a close and spring dawns, the crabs caught in the East Sea are plump with meat, boasting of a deep, mild flavor. Crab is a specialty product that represents Yeongdeok because Yeongdeok crab comes to mind when people think of crab. It is low in fat and mild in taste, making it effective for dieting. It also contains chitosan, which helps boost the body's immunity. Eagerly awaited by epicures nationwide, the Yeongdeok Crab Festival will be held from March 26 to 29 in nearby Haeparang Park in Guhang Port.

  For more information about this Lighthouse of the Month, visit the National Lighthouse Museum's Lighthouse and Sea website (lighthouse-museum.or.kr/sea). Tourist information on areas around the lighthouse is available on the Yeongdeok Travel Yeongdeok Stay website (ydstay.kr).
 

⑤ Uninhabited Island of the Month – Suryeongyeo
 

  MOF selected Suryeongyeo—a semi-preserved uninhabited island and special island located in Chuja-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province—as Uninhabited Island of the Month for March.

  Suryeongyeo is located approximately 2 km north of Sangchujado Island. It has a height of about 109 m and an area of 62,009 ㎡, and the lower part of the islet consists of milky-white rock.

  The name Suryeong is said to have originated from either Suryeong (水領)—meaning “the islet that governs the surrounding waters” of the Chuja Archipelago”—or Suryeong (水嶺), which describes the topographical feature of a ridge or a pass rising from the sea. It was designated as Suryeong Island in 1961 and renamed Suryeongyeo, which is the name most commonly used locally, in 2003.

  Formed by the hardening of hot volcanic ash during the Cretaceous period, the island has well-developed vertical joints around it; tidal pools called small seas within the island can be seen here and there. Here, marine life adapted to harsh environments—such as the snail shell—can be observed.

  The results of an uninhabited island survey confirmed that various plants and animals inhabit this area. These include: plants such as black pines, Machilus trees, rock moss, and rapeseed flowers; birds such as falcon (a natural monument) and Styan's grasshopper warbler (an internationally protected species); and long-tailed bush warbler, an endemic species of the Korean Peninsula.

  Information on uninhabited islands including Suyeongnyeo and nearby tourist attractions is available on MOF's Uninhabited Islands Comprehensive Information Center (http://uii.mof.go.kr) and Visit Jeju Center (https://www.visitjeju.net/kr).


 
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