Korea Island Promotion Agency Selects 'Jeju Chuja Island' as Island of the Month for September

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Chuja Island, the ‘island within an island’ in Jeju, has been selected as the ‘Island of the Month’ for September by the Korea Island Promotion Agency.

The Korea Island Promotion Agency (President Oh Dongho) announced on the 8th that Jeju’s Chuja Island, which possesses unique geographical features and folk resources, has been chosen as the September ‘Useful Island of the Month (hereafter Alssulseom)’.

The ‘Island of the Month’ aimed at raising domestic island awareness is themed ‘Useful Island of the Month to Know,’ containing interesting information about the island’s history, culture, and traditions.

Chuja Island is the largest spawning ground for yellow croaker. The seawater temperature near Chuja Island is known to be relatively mild even in winter due to the influence of the Tsushima Current passing through the Jeju waters.

It is also a place where cold and warm currents intersect, with fast currents and deep waters. The seabed is rocky, making the water clean and ideal for yellow croaker to choose as a spawning ground.

In relation to this, a festival will be held. The ‘14th Chamgulbi Grand Festival’ is scheduled to take place over three days from the 30th of this month to the 2nd of next month around Chuja Island.

Chuja Island also holds many folk resources such as General Choi Young’s shrine, Cheonyeodang, and Parkssi Cheosagak.

At the end of the Goryeo Dynasty, General Choi Young encountered a fierce storm while heading to Jeju Island to suppress a rebellion.

To avoid it, General Choi Young stayed briefly on Chuja Island and greatly helped the island residents by teaching them how to fish. It is said that the villagers built a shrine to honor General Choi Young’s virtue.

Cheonyeodang is a place where the legend of Agieopgae (baby caretaker) has been passed down. Among the haenyeo (female divers) who came from Jeju Island to Chuja Island, a young woman who cared for babies drowned in the sea.

This young woman appeared in the dreams of the haenyeo, sitting motionless at the current site of the shrine. Feeling pity, the villagers built Cheonyeodang here to pray for safety at sea and the health of their children.

Parkssi Cheosagak is a shrine built by descendants to commemorate Park In-taek, a recluse. Park In-taek was exiled to Chuja Island during the mid-Joseon period, where he treated the residents’ illnesses and taught Buddhist doctrines.

There are also great walking trails for autumn. The Jeju Olle Trail Course 18-1, connecting Sangchuja Island and Hachuja Island, and the ‘Navaron Sky Road’ are already attracting many trekkers.

Oh Dongho, president of the Korea Island Promotion Agency, said, “September on Chuja Island, known as the largest spawning ground for yellow croaker, seems abundant but is also a ‘high-risk area for population extinction.’ Many islands will face these problems sooner or later, so continuous island development strategies and systematic research are necessary for this island that will encounter these issues earlier.”

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