The Sea on the Grill... Yeongdeok County Successfully Concludes the 19th Mulgajami Festival as a New Tourism Model

A Sea Celebration Shared by Locals and Tourists
New Concept, "Seafood Grill Festa," Successfully Takes Root

Approximately 13,700 people visited the Mulgajami Festival, held around Chuksan Port in Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, over three days from November 7 to 9, marking a successful conclusion to the event.

The 19th Yeongdeok Mulgajami Festival was newly revamped this year as a "participatory fishing village cultural festival," which has been praised for opening up new possibilities for the festival.

Tourists participating in the 19th Yeongdeok Mulgajami Festival are enjoying grilling experience at the Seafood Grill Zone. Provided by Yeongdeok County

In particular, the "Seafood Grill Festa," introduced for the first time this year, received a highly positive response for its value and experiential aspects, as visitors could grill and enjoy fresh Mulgajami and various seafood themselves for just 10,000 won.

Kim Kwang-yeol, Yeongdeok County Governor (left), is experiencing the Seafood Grill Zone.

In addition, a wide range of programs and content, including bare-handed fish catching, a fishing village flea market, local talent shows, and fishing boat boarding experiences, were offered to appeal to all generations and social groups, resulting in high participation from family visitors.

In preparing for this festival, the organizing committee minimized the presence of outside street vendors and invited singers, ensuring that benefits were fairly distributed among participants. The festival was transformed into a "participatory fishing village cultural festival," with local residents involved in everything from planning to operation, presenting a new vision for the event.

Furthermore, the opening of the Pohang-Yeongdeok Expressway on November 8 led to an influx of tourists from nearby cities such as Daegu and Ulsan, resulting in a larger family turnout than in previous years.

Jung Changgi, chairman of the Yeongdeok Mulgajami Festival Organizing Committee, stated, "This year's festival was created through the combined efforts of local youth, residents, and volunteers, making its significance as great as its successful hosting. Next year, we will further enrich the content and quality of the festival to invigorate the local community and widely promote the beautiful sea of Chuksan and its high-quality seafood, ensuring even greater satisfaction for our visitors."