Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival
Written and photographed by Victoria Lee
Since coming to Korea, it has been my goal to complete my Korean bucket list and this spring, my goal of walking on water has finally been accomplished. The Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival has been on my list for two years now and it is one of those desired must-do experiences that every traveler to the South Jeolla province should experience.
The Yellow Sea parting event known as the Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival has been the highlight of my Korean experience this year, and the experience was like walking into a Salvador Dali painting; it was all very surreal.
Imagine looking out into the crowd of people, some gathering and digging for consumable treasures; others chatter away as they slosh through the ocean, and still others quickly pass you by as they move toward their goal: reaching the distant island of Modo. Surrounding you are the faces of other participants beaming with excitement and curiosity as they journey alongside of you on this magical adventure. As you look out into the horizon at the setting sun that blankets the crowd, you cannot help but smile. At that moment, you realize that you are standing on the ocean floor where the sea creatures dwelled only a few hours ago, and it is absolutely amazing.
Jindo is the third largest island in Korea and every year it hosts several wonderful festivals including the sea-parting festival, which delights many travelers. The Yellow Sea is at its lowest level twice a year because of the tidal activity known as Tidal Harmonics. For one magical hour-and-a-half, sometime during the spring each year, visitors can walk right between the two islands of Jindo and Modo. This natural phenomenon takes place two to three times a year, but the festival is celebrated only once a year. This festival is a welcoming celebration that announces to the Korean locals that spring has awakened from her slumber.
The city of Jindo celebrates this event with zest and song. There is a parade that marches right through the sea parting, leading the way for many visitors to experience walking on water, as they splash through the 2.9 km pathway revealed by the low tide. Guests can also contribute to the festival as participants rather than just spectators
by acting as flag carriers in the parade. Traditional drums and songs are heard throughout the festival site and the spirit of the Korean people is brought to life through a lively celebration. In addition to the colorful parade, visitors can partake and delight their palates with a taste of some international cuisine as tents representing different countries provide a selection of foods from all around the world. In addition to the international food venues, guests can experience a taste of tradition starting with Korea’s traditional dish called sannakji. This dish is very tasty but only for those who are brave enough to swallow the slightly-flavored live octopus.
In addition to the festival, Jindo has many other wonderful places to explore. For dog lovers, Jindo offers a chance to interact with one of Korea’s National Treasures, the Jindo dog. This loveable, smart and loyal dog is native to the island. It is fiercely loyal and protective of its human owners and their territory. Due to their nature, the adult dogs are slightly aggressive to any outsider, so visitors should be cautious when approaching them. However, at the Jindo Dog Park, visitors are given the opportunity to interact with these delightful canine puppies and be showered with lots of puppy love. There is also a local place to see more traditional arts, so if time allows you can stop by Ullimsanbang for some quiet rest and restoration.