Contributing to the Development of Gourmet Tourism and the Creation of Residents' Income
(Third from the left) Kim San, the governor of Muan County, and (second from the left) Kim Kyung-hyun, the chairman, are performing a mudfish catching performance to mark the start of the festival. [Photo by Muan County]
[Muan＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Oh Hwan-joo] Jeonnam Muan-gun (Governor Kim San) opened the ‘2023 Muan Winter Mugil Festival’ on the 14th at the Yanggandari Fish Market area in Haeje-myeon.
According to the county, this event was planned to promote the true taste of mugil, a representative winter seafood of clean Muan, and to provide opportunities for sales and promotion of excellent local agricultural and specialty products, thereby developing gourmet tourism in Muan-gun and contributing to income generation within the region.
Starting at 10 a.m. with the festival’s killer content ‘Catch the Golden Mugil,’ the opening performance included a mugil balloon popping event to pray for the festival’s great success, and congratulatory performances by popular singers Hong Kyung-min, Yoon Sung-gi, and Muan-gun promotional ambassador Nongsuro.
In particular, ‘Catch the Golden Mugil’ was an experience where visitors caught the largest mugil with a dip net inside an air bounce, and the first-place participant in each round was awarded a 1g gold bar, receiving enthusiastic responses from tourists.
Also, the Mugil Cooking Zone by the Hotel Culinary Department of Chodang University, where visitors could taste and experience dishes made with mugil, and a one-day class to learn how to make mugil sushi delighted tourists’ eyes and palates, attracting continuous visitors.
Along with this, a sales zone for agricultural and marine specialty products of Muan, such as sweet potatoes, stake-cultivated seaweed, gamtae (a type of seaweed), and eel, was operated.
The Haeje Saemaeul Women's Association Local Food Zone, the Hwangto Sweet Potato Cooking and Sales Zone, traditional folk games for children, a mugil aquarium where visitors could see mugil at a glance, hanging mugil wish tags for the New Year, an Ugly Mugil photo zone, and kite-making experiences linked with Muan Hwangto Mudflat Land were held, providing perfect programs for children needing experiential learning during winter vacation.
During the event, a regional win-win ‘Gaja Event’ offered a 50% discount on the golden mugil catching experience fee upon presenting receipts used within Muan. Another event gave gifts such as blankets, rice, sweet potatoes, and eco-bags to those presenting receipts of purchases over 15,000 won at the Yanggandari Fish Market. There was also a surprise auction event offering mugil and agricultural and marine specialty products at affordable prices.
Governor Kim San said, “The Muan Winter Mugil Festival was a time to promote the true taste of winter mugil, a local delicacy and healthy food.” He added, “I hope that promoting excellent agricultural and marine specialty products grown in the clean Hwangto mudflats nationwide will help revitalize the local economy.”
Meanwhile, on the 15th, various programs such as the Sungsung Busking, Mugil Quiz Contest, and Healing Concert will be held at the Yanggandari Fish Market area to celebrate the Lunar New Year market day.
Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Oh Hwan-joo ohj1358@asiae.co.kr
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