Strengthening Win-Win Cooperation Through Joint Haenyeo Diving Demonstration and Fishing Village Association MOU
Ulleung County in North Gyeongsang Province announced that from August 7 to 8, a delegation of 48 people?including Oh Younghun, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province; Lee Sangbong, Chairperson of the Jeju Provincial Council; Kim Kwangsoo, Superintendent of Jeju Provincial Office of Education; and Jang Youngmi, President of the Jeju Haenyeo Culture Association?visited Ulleung County and Dokdo. During the visit, the 'Jeju-Ulleung Marine Culture Cooperation and Exchange Event' was successfully held.
This visit was organized to share the marine cultural resources and island characteristics of both regions and to seek ways for mutual development in the fields of marine tourism, culture, and fisheries.
On the first day, August 7, the delegation toured the Ulleungdo·Dokdo Coastal Marine Base, Nari Basin, the Ahn Yongbok Memorial Hall, the Dokdo Volunteer Garrison Memorial Hall, and the Dokdo Museum in succession, reflecting on the humanistic, historical, geographical, and resource value of Ulleungdo and Dokdo.
In addition, the Dodong Fishing Village Association, which includes Dokdo, and the Jeju Haenyeo Association signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the ongoing preservation of haenyeo culture and to enhance interregional fisheries exchanges, marking a new milestone for future cooperation in the fisheries sector.
On the second day (August 8), the exchange group visited Dokdo, where haenyeo from Jeju and Ulleung jointly demonstrated traditional sea harvesting in the waters of Dokdo, showcasing a collaborative diving performance. They also unfolded a large Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) on the sea as part of a symbolic performance.
Furthermore, the Jeju haenyeo prepared a 'Haenyeo Table' meal, which was delivered to staff members working on Dokdo, including the 119 Rescue Headquarters, Pohang Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Dokdo Management Office, to express their gratitude.
This event attracted significant attention as a symbolic occasion to widely promote the value and tradition of maritime cultural heritage and to reaffirm, both domestically and internationally, that Dokdo is an unmistakable part of Korean territory?having served as a livelihood base for ancestors and continuing to be a site for fishing activities today.
Oh Younghun, Governor of Jeju Province, stated, "Dokdo is a symbol of our maritime territory, and Jeju and Ulleung County will work together to take the lead in preserving and developing marine culture."
Nam Hankwon, County Governor of Ulleung, said, "Jeju and Ulleung share the commonality of being islands and have abundant marine resources," adding, "Based on this exchange, we will expand practical cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, and fisheries."
Ulleung County plans to further strengthen ties and cooperation between the two regions through regular mutual visits, joint marketing, and marine environment conservation projects in partnership with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.
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