Traditional Marine Fishing Gear Made Accessible... National Folk Museum Publishes "Shall We Go to the Museum to Catch Fish?"

Introducing the Museum's Collection of Traditional Fishing Gear in an Engaging Way

The National Folk Museum announced on January 8 that it has published a booklet titled "Shall We Go to the Museum to Catch Fish?" introducing the history and usage of traditional marine fishing gear. This booklet presents the museum's collection of traditional fishing equipment-such as hand fishing rods, traditional fishhooks, and haenyeo rubber diving suits-in an accessible and engaging way for the general public.

The National Folk Museum has published a booklet titled "Shall We Go to the Museum to Catch Fish?" which introduces the history and usage of traditional marine fishing gear. Provided by the National Folk Museum

A distinguishing feature of this project is that the booklet was planned in conjunction with YouTube videos. The National Folk Museum produced experiential documentary videos showing traditional fishing gear being used in real-life settings such as fishing villages and rivers, allowing audiences to enjoy both the booklet and the videos together. The booklet introduces the eras and characteristics of the artifacts and the stories behind the fishing gear, while the videos vividly depict their use in the field.

During the production process, the museum staff went beyond the storage rooms to visit fishing villages and various rivers and lakes in places like Yeonpyeongdo, Samcheok, Ulsan, and Busan, where they experienced traditional fishing gear firsthand. In doing so, they captured not only the tools themselves but also the lives and memories of the people who have used them.

Unlike previous collection booklets, this edition is produced in a smaller, lighter format to enhance portability and readability. It adopts a popular style by combining photographs, records, and on-site scenes. Through this booklet, the National Folk Museum aims to shed light on the communal values and histories of daily life embedded in traditional fishing tools.

The booklet "Shall We Go to the Museum to Catch Fish?" is available in limited quantities at the National Folk Museum's museum shop, and the accompanying videos will be released through the National Folk Museum's YouTube channel.