The First Seafood of the New Year: 'Bangeo (Yellowtail) and Maesaengi (Green Algae)'

Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Selects January's Seafood, Marine Life, Lighthouses, and Uninhabited Islands

[Asia Economy Reporter Jusangdon] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 3rd that the first seafood of the month for the New Year of 2021, the Year of the Ox, has been selected as Yellowtail and Maesaengi, representative winter health foods.

Yellowtail, considered one of the winter delicacies, is in season from November to February of the following year. During this period, yellowtail accumulates ample fat to endure low water temperatures and prepare for spawning, and the larger the fish, the better the taste.

Yellowtail has a high fat content, giving it a unique savory flavor and a soft texture. Especially, it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which help prevent cardiovascular diseases such as arteriosclerosis, stroke, and heart disease, and support brain health. It also contains high levels of vitamin E and niacin, which aid in anti-aging.

Maesaengi, which gives a warm feeling throughout the body, is a pure Korean word meaning "to pluck fresh moss immediately." Maesaengi is a seaweed that grows only in unpolluted clean areas. It is harvested from late November, when the cold wind begins, until February of the following year.

Just over 20 years ago, maesaengi was considered a foreign substance caught between sheets of Gim (laver) during harvest, but as its taste and efficacy were recognized, it has now established itself as a representative winter health food.

Maesaengi is rich in calcium and iron, making it a good food for growing children and adolescents, elderly people concerned about bone health, and women with anemia. It is especially rich in dietary fiber, which helps eliminate toxins from the body and is effective in preventing constipation during the less active winter season.

Im Taehoon, Director of Distribution Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Last year, due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), all our people went through a difficult time and must have felt fatigued. I hope everyone starts the New Year of the Ox healthily by enjoying the delicious and nutritious yellowtail and maesaengi in season."

The marine organism of the month for the New Year was selected as the Spectacled Eider. It is a seabird belonging to the family of sea ducks in the order Charadriiformes. As the name includes 'soe,' meaning 'small,' it has a small body length of about 25 cm, a black head, and a small beak with a flesh color. The underside of the body is covered with white feathers, and the upper side has a grayish-brown color.

The lighthouse of the month was selected as the 'Ulgi Lighthouse' located in Dong-gu, Ulsan City. Ulgi Lighthouse, which first lit the East Coast in February 1905, shines its light every 10 seconds at sea up to about 48 km away, guiding ships. Also, during fog or heavy rain, it sounds a fog signal every 50 seconds, ensuring the safety of vessels navigating the East Coast.

The uninhabited island of the month, Jangdo, is located in the sea in front of Jangjwa-ri village, Wando-eup, Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, and is connected by a bridge, making it easily accessible from the mainland.

Jangdo gained new attention after Typhoon Sarah hit Wando in 1959, when about 1,000 wooden stakes (Mokchak) with diameters of 40 to 80 cm were discovered along the island's coast. The stakes were densely planted at 10 cm intervals, extending about 300 meters in length. Subsequent expert research revealed that the stakes are relics from the era of Jang Bogo, making Jangdo known as "the island of the maritime king Jang Bogo." At low tide, you can see the remaining bases of the stakes on the mudflat coast to the right immediately after crossing the bridge from Jangjwa-ri toward Jangdo.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.