First Lady Kim Geon-hee Meets Haenyeo in Jeju... Participates in Beach Cleanup and Animal Protection Activities

Picking Up Plastic and Cleaning Activities on Jeju Beach
Meeting Marine Animal Researchers at the Marine Fisheries Research Institute
Encouraging Seafood Consumption at the Eungalchi Festival

On the 6th, Kim Geon-hee met with haenyeo fishermen in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and participated in beach cleanup and marine animal protection activities.

In the afternoon of the same day, as her first schedule during her visit to Jeju, Mrs. Kim visited the haenyeo resting room of the Jongdal Fishing Village in Jeju City to meet with haenyeo fishermen from the Jeju area. About 10 people attended this meeting, including officials from the Jeju Haenyeo Association, young haenyeo who moved to fishing from Seoul, and middle-aged and senior haenyeo who have long been engaged in haenyeo fishing in Jeju. Haenyeo and Jeju haenyeo fishing and culture are designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 132, National Important Fisheries Heritage No. 1, and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, respectively.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mrs. Kim listened to the hardships of the haenyeo and expressed her respect and gratitude to the haenyeo who have preserved the tradition despite difficult conditions.

Afterwards, Mrs. Kim visited Gwangchigi Beach in Seogwipo City, Jeju, to participate in a companion beach cleanup activity. The companion beach program is a beach adoption program where companies, schools, and organizations voluntarily take care of and nurture a specific beach like a companion animal. Mrs. Kim has shown interest in environmental issues through campaigns such as the 'Bye Bye Plastic' campaign.

At this event, Mrs. Kim sympathized with the purpose of the companion beach campaign, which started with voluntary participation by citizens, and carried out a cleanup activity picking up small plastic waste at Gwangchigi Beach with representatives from Jeju companion beach adoption organizations and the Jeju Saemaul Association.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

After finishing the cleanup activity, Mrs. Kim visited the Jeju Marine and Fisheries Research Institute to meet with civic groups and marine animal protection experts. She listened to the efforts made by the officials to protect and conserve endangered marine species such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin and sea turtles, and discussed ways to enhance marine biodiversity.

Mrs. Kim has shown active efforts for animal protection. In April, she visited the Chungnam Wildlife Rescue Center, and the day before, she visited the Cheongju Zoo, designated by the Ministry of Environment as an 'Ex-situ Conservation Institution.' During her visit to Cheongju Zoo, she met 'Baram-i,' the so-called rib lion recently rescued from another zoo in a skeletal condition.

Right after visiting the Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Mrs. Kim attended the opening ceremony of the '4th Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival' held at Seogwipo Port in Jeju to encourage regional economic revitalization and promote seafood consumption, according to the Presidential Office.

Before the opening ceremony of the Seogwipo Silver Hairtail Festival, Mrs. Kim visited restaurant booths selling silver hairtail dishes and local traditional foods to encourage fishermen and communicate with local residents. She also participated in a silver hairtail auction experience with children and families, successfully bidding on and purchasing silver hairtail.

As the honorary chairperson of the Korea Visit Year Committee, Mrs. Kim has shown great interest in regional economic revitalization through tourism by visiting events such as the Seocheon Hansan Mosi Cultural Festival (June), Gwangju Biennale (June), and Gangneung World Choir Competition (July). She has also visited markets such as Gangneung Jungang and Seongnam Market (July) and Busan Gijang Market (September) to promote seafood consumption.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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