Namhae Korea’s Hidden Gem

By Alison Rock

Located about 400 kilometers south of Seoul and across the longest suspension bridge in Korea, you will find Namhae Island. Located in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, Namhae is the fifth largest island in Korea. It is well known by locals for its rustic, countryside charms, but as a tourist, I would tout it as a healing escape from busy city life.

Famous for its fresh seafood and traditional fishing methods, my son and I started our trip off at the Jijokhang Fishing Village. The traditional method of fishing is called Jukbangnyeom. This method of fishing uses bamboo weirs that date back over 500 years. Bamboo weirs are giant fish traps where the “myeolchi”, called anchovies in English, swim in the V-shaped structure at high tide and can’t escape during low tide.  This allows fishermen or clever birds to jump in and scoop them up. The anchovies in this area are said to swim against strong currents so they are firm and have a better taste. The anchovies range in size from 1/2 inch to 4 inches long. Anchovies are one of the best foods to eat because they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote brain and heart health. In addition, they are an excellent source of calcium, iron, and zinc. 

Our final stop on this trip was to the Namhae Pavilion and Namhae Bridge. This serves as the symbolic gateway to the Namhae region. Here we were able to take in the sights of the picturesque Namhae Sea and the quintessential and very Instagramable Namhae Bridge. 

As we were enjoying the view of the port below, a very unique ship caught our eye which led to another adventure. Docked in the port is the Geobukseon, “Turtle Ship”, of the great admiral Yi Sun Shin. This warship was built in Korea during the Jeosan dynasty in approximately 1592 and was used during the Japanese invasions of Korea. It is designed both aesthetically and cleverly. It has a dragon-shaped head at the bow that can launch cannon fire or flames and it has a ferocious appearance that is meant to be used as psychological warfare. Inside the ship, there are eleven cannons on each side as opposed to enemy ships that at the time typically only carried 3 cannons. The sides of the turtle ship were speckled with smaller port holes from which arrows could be fired. Since adversary ships were typically taller, the roof was covered with spikes to prevent enemies from jumping on and attacking. This ship does not have a motor. It is steered and powered by 40 men with oars under normal conditions and 100 men in rough seas. The story is told that only three ships like this defeated over four hundred enemy ships. 

About the Author

Born in California Alison Rock is a trained culinarian, actor in Korea, K-influencer, painter and most importantly a wife and mom to two teenage boys. She enjoys travel and has resided in Korea for ten years.