Sold at Auction for 60,000 Won
Rare Swordfish Caught off Samcheok Coast
Only One or Two Caught Annually, Possibly Due to Global Warming
A swordfish, which typically inhabits warm waters such as those off Jeju Island and the southern coast, was caught off the coast of Samcheok in Gangwon Province.
On July 10, Jeong Yeoncheol, a member of the Samcheok City Council, posted a photo on social media of a swordfish caught by the fishing vessel S off the coast of Jeongrajin in Samcheok.
The swordfish, caught early that morning, measured 3 meters in length and weighed 226 kilograms. It was sold at auction for 60,000 won.
Swordfish, known for their long, pointed snouts, mainly inhabit tropical and temperate regions such as the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. Recently, the species attracted attention when actor Ryu Sooyoung was shown catching one in the Caribbean Sea on a popular entertainment program. In Korea, swordfish are found in offshore waters of the southern region and Jeju Island, but are known to be extremely rare along the east coast.
Swordfish is considered a premium fish, often served as steak or sashimi. The belly meat, in particular, is regarded as a top-quality ingredient.
It was also reported that a bluefin tuna weighing about 200 kilograms was caught off Jeongrajin on the same day, along with the swordfish.
Jeong Yeoncheol said, "Every morning, I go to the harbor to check the catch and listen to the difficulties faced by fishermen, but I was surprised to see a swordfish caught this morning. When I asked around, they said that only one or two swordfish are caught per year, possibly due to global warming."
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