Shinan-gun Hosts a Rich Autumn Festival That Satisfies All Five Senses

'Island Bulbolrak Festival, Island Saeujeot Festival, Island Mandrami Festival Unfold'

[Sinan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] In Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, a festival full of food and attractions will be held to celebrate the autumn season, known as the season of abundant harvests.

First, the 'Island Bulbolrak Festival' will be held for two days starting from the 30th on Hongdo, the Angel Island, the top tourist destination in Korea.

This festival on Sinan Hongdo, located 2 hours and 30 minutes by boat from Mokpo, is expected to be even more vibrant with Bulbolrak, Hongdo's representative seafood, as it is being held for the first time in three years due to COVID-19.

Bulbolrak, also called 'Yeolgi' in the local dialect, can be eaten raw as sashimi, but its texture, flavor, and taste are excellent, making it suitable for various recipes such as soup, grilled, and fried dishes.

Named because the island and seawater appear red at sunset, Hongdo is a natural monument in its entirety and boasts beautiful rocky formations and mysterious natural scenery.

During the festival, there will be Bulbolrak cooking contests and tasting events that satisfy all five senses, as well as boat fishing experiences that offer the thrilling joy of catching fish.

Currently, about 20 fishing boats catch Bulbolrak in Hongdo, generating an annual income of 200 million KRW from 15 tons of catch.

The 'Island Shrimp Sauce Festival' will be held for three days from the 1st to the 3rd of next month at Sinan Jeotgal Town in Jido-eup, the nation's top production area for salted shrimp.

Sinan is the largest producer of salted shrimp in Korea, producing 11,756 tons annually, which accounts for more than 75% of the national production, generating about 73 billion KRW in income.

The Island Shrimp Sauce Festival will feature surprise seafood auctions, cooking competitions using shrimp sauce, exhibitions and tasting events, as well as sales of local agricultural and marine products, aiming to captivate both tourists and local residents.

Sinan shrimp sauce is made from salted shrimp caught in Sinan's clean waters and sun-dried salt rich in germanium, resulting in firm texture and an umami flavor that intensifies with chewing. It is also known as a food beneficial for boosting immunity, brain cell growth and cognitive function, improving inflammatory diseases, especially digestive and liver functions, anti-cancer effects, and dieting.

From the 1st to the 10th of next month, Byeongpungdo in Sinan will host the 'Island Cockscomb Festival.'

The Byeongpungdo Cockscomb Park, spanning 11 hectares, is the world's largest cockscomb flower field, where visitors can see various colorful cockscomb flowers shaped like rooster combs, candles, and fox tails.

It is expected to be a healing time to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the sky, sea, and flowers simultaneously.

Park Woo-ryang, the mayor of Sinan, said, "We have prepared various festivals that satisfy all five senses to welcome autumn," and added, "We will do our best to impress visitors who come to Sinan, where abundant food and beautiful natural environment harmonize."

In addition, the Salty Christmas Festival, which ended on the 18th, will be extended until the 10th of next month due to the popularity of various exhibition and experience events featuring rare animals and young artists.