Discover the Timeless Sea: A 7-Generation Family’s Fishing Legacy in Ganghwa Island

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Episode 5 of EBS1’s Korean Travel series, Sunlight of My Life, Family, follows a seven-generation family on Ganghwa Island who still make their living from the West Sea’s tidal waterways. With each tide they harvest sanghap clams, jjukkumi (webfoot octopus), and mullet—small daily rituals that stitch generations together out on the water.

On Ganghwa’s West Sea, one family has preserved fishing practices that stretch back to the Joseon era. For seven generations they’ve lived on the water, moving in step with the natural rhythm of the tides. In 2011, Shin Yong-il and his wife answered his father’s call to return home. They followed the family’s long line of fishermen back to sea, and today they keep that tradition alive on Ganghwa’s waterways.

Their day begins before the tide goes out. They head for the mudflats and wait about two hours for the water to fully recede. Working the exposed flats, the family digs up roughly 160 kg (about 353 lb) of sanghap clams. To keep up with the changing tide, they rush to jjukkumi spots and haul in a 300 m (984 ft) line of conch traps; octopuses tucked inside the shells emerge one by one. At dusk, father and son take the boat out to retrieve mullet from the fixed gill nets they set earlier.

Everything they catch during the day funnels straight to the family-run fish market. The morning’s sanghap, the jjukkumi they pulled up, and the mullet they hauled in go directly from sea to table. A bowl of kalguksu—Korean knife-cut noodle soup—rich with sanghap carries the flavor of a day on the water and the quiet intimacy of family life at sea.

What this family does on the water is more than a job. It’s a lived relationship with the tides and a hands-on passing of skills from generation to generation. The episode gently raises the question: how long will this way of life—and Ganghwa’s fishing culture—continue to endure?

In spring, tidal flats across Korea draw visitors eager to dig for clams or try hands-on experiences. The West Coast—especially Taean and Seosan in Chungcheongnam-do and Sinan in Jeollanam-do—attracts people hunting for clams, short-necked clams, and octopus. But mudflats are not like regular beaches, and they’re a common site for safety incidents. Each year, the Coast Guard and local authorities warn people about getting stranded or slipping.

The biggest danger on mudflats is changing tides. Much of the West Coast has a large tidal range, and water can return quickly after it recedes. If you get absorbed in digging or exploring, you can miss the incoming tide and become trapped inland. The Coast Guard recommends checking tide times before entering and returning to the shore within the safe window.

Also confirm whether your phone will work. Some tidal flats have weak or no signal, and people can lose their sense of direction in deep tidal gullies. Go with others rather than alone, and scout the surrounding terrain before you head out.

Your footwear matters. Sturdy boots can sink into the mud and trap you. Safety organizations and local governments suggest ankle-supporting aqua shoes or mudflat-specific footwear. Long sleeves and gloves help prevent cuts from shell fragments, sharp rocks, or creatures in the mudflat.

Don’t judge safety by the surface alone. The top can look firm while deep, soft mud lies underneath. In less-trafficked areas or near tidal gullies you can suddenly sink past knee depth. If that happens, avoid yanking one foot free—doing so can make you lose balance. Move slowly and shift your weight to spread it out.

As summer arrives, dehydration and heatstroke become greater risks. Mudflats offer little shade and the ground can hold heat. If you’re working or taking part in activities for long periods, stay hydrated. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and local governments advise avoiding extended mudflat activity during heat warnings.

Protecting the ecosystem matters, too. Harvesting juvenile clams or taking marine life during closed seasons can violate the Fisheries Resources Management Act. Some areas restrict entry outside designated experience zones or protect habitats of endangered species. Rules and allowable catches vary by region, so check local government guidance before you go.

Mudflats are home to a variety of seafood—like short-necked clams and octopus—and are one of Korea’s important marine ecosystems. But their tidal behavior and terrain also make them places where safety incidents can happen. Experts and marine safety agencies emphasize the basics: check tide times, wear protective gear, and avoid risky solo trips.

EBS’s Korean Travel, a long-running documentary that captures the nation’s landscapes and lives

Since its debut in August 2009, EBS1’s Korean Travel has quietly become a flagship documentary series. The program visits mountains, seas, villages, and alleys across the country to document seasonal landscapes, local cultures, and everyday life.

Each week the show centers on a single theme presented as a five-part series. Episodes run about 30 minutes, and the program gently explores the living patterns and emotions that define each region.

Korean Travel avoids sensational scenes and over-the-top production. It emphasizes the atmosphere that emerges naturally in the field and the real stories of people in their everyday spaces, using restrained narration to portray nature, people, and places with clarity and warmth.

The series covers a wide range of settings—from mountain and fishing villages to farming communities, island towns, and urban alleys and workplaces—bringing viewers scenes and lives they might not otherwise encounter, along with each area’s cultural distinctives.

Korean Travel currently airs regularly on EBS 1TV. Each week the show records landscapes and lives across the country, guided by a new theme and location.

Korean Travel airs Monday through Friday at 9:35 p.m. You can find broadcast information on the EBS1 Korean Travel preview page.