We left the harbor at 6 a.m., spent the day catching jjukkumi in the sea west of Seoul, and ate them that same evening in a bubbling pot of shabu-shabu.
It was a reminder of something I want to share with visitors: in Korea, the sea is much closer than you might think.
Leaving at 6 a.m.
Our day started before sunrise.
We headed to Geobukseom Marina near Daebudo, an island area on Korea’s west coast about an hour from Seoul.
We were going out on a small yacht with about 12 people.
There were four of us friends, five other anglers, a captain, and an assistant — 11 people in total.
The trip would take about eight hours, from 6 a.m. until around 2 p.m.
When we arrived, the marina was still lit by pre-sunrise lights.
Once we were out on the water, there was almost no shade, and the reflection from the sea was surprisingly strong.
We covered our faces to protect ourselves from the sun.
What Is Jjukkumi?
Jjukkumi is a small octopus, often called webfoot octopus in English.
Spring is one of the most popular seasons for jjukkumi, but autumn is also a good time to enjoy it.
It can be stir-fried, grilled with pork belly, or cooked in shabu-shabu.
Compared with larger octopus, jjukkumi is smaller and has a softer, more tender texture.
Jjukkumi is also known for being rich in taurine, and many Koreans associate it with helping to relieve fatigue.
Autumn is a popular season for jjukkumi fishing.
The closed season runs from May 11 to August 31, and the season reopens on September 1.
For this kind of fishing, anglers commonly use artificial egi lures.
During our trip, we caught two kinds of sea creatures: jjukkumi and gap-ojingeo, or cuttlefish.
Beginners’ Luck — or Not
This was my first time catching jjukkumi.
At first, I was not sure how it would go.
The angler next to us seemed to be catching them much more easily.
In the end, however, the four of us beginners each caught around 30 to 40 jjukkumi.
The best angler on the boat caught an impressive 215.
When I asked what he does with so many, he said he shares them with his neighbors back home.
We were a little frustrated, I admit. As soon as we got off the boat, we blamed the equipment and ordered proper fishing gear that same evening.
By the time the trip was over, we were already talking about going again.
Lunch on the Water
Fishing for eight hours works up an appetite.
For lunch, we had pork belly, green onions, and kimchi.
We also made ramyeon and added fresh jjukkumi from the sea.
Eating freshly caught seafood while still out on the water was one of the memorable parts of the day.
The One Meal: Jjukkumi Shabu-Shabu
After returning from the sea, we took our catch home and prepared a proper meal.
For the broth, we used dried anchovies, dipori, and three instant broth tablets.
We added zucchini, onion, green onion, chili peppers, and a large prawn.
Then came the jjukkumi.
We also added cuttlefish that we had caught during the trip.
Everything went into a bubbling pot of shabu-shabu.
The best part was knowing exactly where the seafood had come from.
We had caught it ourselves that morning and were eating it that same evening.
Can Visitors Try Jjukkumi Fishing?
If you are visiting Korea and want to try something beyond the usual sightseeing activities, a jjukkumi fishing trip can be an interesting experience.
You do not necessarily need to be an experienced angler.
We were beginners ourselves.
Here is what our trip looked like.
| What | Our Trip |
|---|---|
| Departure | Geobukseom Marina near Daebudo, 6 a.m. |
| Duration | About 8 hours (6 a.m.–2 p.m.) |
| Cost | About ₩100,000/person (as of autumn 2026) |
| Boat | Small yacht, about 12 people |
| Rods | Rented on boat (free on our trip; some boats charge around ₩10,000) |
| Bring your own | Egi lures + small wire clips, ice box, hat, face cover/mask |
| Also bring | ID and motion sickness medicine |
A Few More Things to Know
You should bring your passport or another accepted form of identification.
Boats may require passenger information in advance because a passenger list is prepared for the trip.
If you are prone to motion sickness, bringing motion sickness medicine is a good idea.
It is also better to book early.
Autumn weekends can fill up quickly.
Weather can also affect the trip, and fishing trips may be cancelled when conditions are not suitable.
There can also be a language challenge.
Many fishing-trip bookings are handled in Korean, so having a Korean friend help with the reservation can make things easier for foreign visitors.
Korea is a small country, and about 70% of it is mountainous.
It is also surrounded by the sea on three sides.
Daebudo is only about an hour from Seoul, and even within Seoul, you can find mountains surprisingly close to the city.
Sometimes, a completely new experience is only a short trip away.
That morning, we watched the sea at sunrise.
That evening, we were eating the catch we had brought home.
I was still a beginner and probably caught fewer jjukkumi than I wanted.
But I am already thinking about the next trip.
🐯 If you want to see a different Korea from the one in the city, look toward the sea or the mountains. They are closer than you think.
You May Also Like
Hodong’s One Meal #02 — Chuncheon, Makguksu, and the Taste of Home
No comments:
Post a Comment