Learn Real Sea Fishing by Boat on Wonsando Island, Boryeong: A Fishing Village Stay Experience

This is a special fishing-village-life project where you live alongside fishing village residents on Wonsando Island in Boryeong, learning fishing and fishery management while experiencing life by the sea. You'll head out to sea by boat with a veteran captain to learn fishing, manage tidal flats and fishing grounds, and directly experience daily life in the village. Taste the fish and seafood you catch yourself, and in conversations with the villagers, feel the warmth and ease of an island village that you simply can't discover through tourism. Learn the wisdom of living in tune with nature's rhythms, and create special memories that bring you closer to the sea.

1. Experience Real Sea Fishing with a Veteran Captain 

Wonsando Island in Boryeong is a renowned spot for webfoot octopus and cuttlefish fishing, drawing many anglers every year. In this project, you'll head out to sea with a captain who has run a fishing boat for over 30 years, learning firsthand how to read the tides, prepare the right gear for the season and species, and find the best fishing spots. Enjoy the seasonal flavors the sea provides through seafood you've caught yourself, help villagers tend to fishing grounds and tidal flats, and get an up-close look at the daily lives and culture of people who make the sea their livelihood. This is a special project that lets you fully experience the real rhythm of fishing village life and the charm of the sea in a way a single-day experience never could.

2. Join the Daily Life of a Fishing Village, Living in Harmony with Nature by Caring for Tidal Flats and Fishing Grounds

Life in a fishing village isn't just about catching fish. Managing tidal flats, organizing fishing gear, and waiting for what the sea offers in tune with the seasons and tides are all cherished parts of daily life for fishing village residents. In this project, you'll work alongside villagers to manage fishing grounds and tidal flats, take part in various gathering activities, and experience firsthand a way of life that coexists with nature. Listening to the stories of residents who have long made their living from the sea, and working up a sweat together, you'll naturally come to feel the warm culture of a fishing community that respects nature and helps one another. Live a real day in a fishing village that tourism could never show you, and discover the value of a life shaped together by the sea and its people.

3. Experience the Sea Coming Alive

The West Sea holds a special rhythm of time rarely found elsewhere. Twice a day, the tide comes in and goes out, offering completely different scenery each time. When the tide comes in, the vast sea stretches refreshingly to the horizon; when it goes out, endless tidal flats appear, revealing another world teeming with life. Watch the sea's scenery shift moment to moment with the seasons, weather, and tides, and feel nature's changes with your whole body. In the unique charm of the West Sea, so different from the blue waters of the East Sea, a special time awaits where you can experience the ease and wisdom of fishing village life lived in step with nature.

4. Live a Day in a Small Island Village Not as a Traveler, but as a Neighbour

This project takes place in Boryeong, a representative island village of South Chungcheong Province where a beautiful sea and warm-hearted people live side by side. Through seasonal village festivals, community activities shared with residents, and a simple yet heartfelt daily life, you'll encounter a slow pace of living rarely found in the city. Walking along the coastal path in the sea breeze, exchanging casual greetings with residents you meet in the village alleys, and tending the fishing grounds together—these moments give you the special feeling of becoming a member of the village rather than just a visitor. Watch the sea turn red at sunset as you wrap up your day, and feel the warmth unique to a fishing village while sharing small stories with the people around you. Your time here won't be just a trip you pass through, but a precious experience of slowing down and discovering a new way of life among nature and people—one you'll remember for a long time.

This is a special stay project where you live with the residents of a real fishing village and learn about sea fishing and managing fish farms. You will go out on a boat with a veteran captain who has been sailing the sea for over 30 years. You'll learn to fish and take care of the tidal flats and fish farms with the locals, experiencing the daily life of the fishing village. Try living a day as a villager, feeling the life of the fishing community that lives in tune with nature and its warm community culture.

■ Main Activities

1) Sea Fishing Practice

Learn how to fish at sea with the captain or from a pier.

You'll learn how to read the tide, the right equipment for different fish, and how to choose fishing spots, while catching seasonal fish like octopus, cuttlefish, and sea bass.

2) Tidal Flat Experience and Seafood Gathering

Join in observing and collecting various marine animals during low tide on the wide tidal flats.

You can understand the tidal flat ecosystem and experience the fishing culture of getting food from nature.

3) Learning About Fish Farm Management and Gear Organization

Participate in managing fish farms and organizing gear with the village residents.

You will experience the daily life of a real fishing village by learning what it takes to be a great captain and the basic skills and community culture needed to live at sea.

4) Island Community Life and Experiences

Experience the daily life of the island village through small festivals and village events, interacting with the residents.

You can learn about the warm community culture and slow way of life that is hard to find in the city.

■ Additional Information

• This project is a stay program where you live with the residents of a real fishing village and experience sea fishing and daily village life.
• You can participate without any special fishing experience or skills. The captain and villagers will teach you from the basics.
• Fishing and fish farm activities may change depending on the weather and tides, with safety as the top priority.
• Since these activities are greatly influenced by the sea and weather, please come with an open mind and flexible attitude.
• Work at sea can involve a lot of physical activity. Please check your fitness beforehand and wear comfortable clothes and non-slip shoes.
• If you get very seasick, please let the captain know before boarding.
• Fishing activities may be limited during the summer and winter, making participation difficult.
• Please follow waste disposal and environmental protection rules to protect the natural environment and marine ecosystems.
• Come with an open mind to understand the lives of residents who live with the sea and learn a relaxed way of life in tune with nature.
  
  

We are introducing a guest house in the village so you can spend time closely with the locals during your stay.

If you prefer a different type of accommodation, please ask us separately.

*The actual appearance of the local guest houses and pensions may differ from the images.

Detailed support items

■ Project activities

• Systematic orientation.
• Reliable project manager.
• 24-hour support! You can get immediate help in emergencies with a 24-hour emergency contact.
• Travel tips for living in Boryeong.

■ Certificate and recommendation letter.

• Issuance of certificates for activities at the organization.

Items not included

• Round-trip transportation.
• Other living expenses in the area (meals, transportation, etc.).
• Train station/airport pickup costs.
• Personal travel insurance.

* Please book your transportation after your participation in the project is confirmed and you receive the final schedule.

This is a village community created by fishermen who have lived by the sea for a long time.For decades, the village residents, led by a veteran captain who has run fishing boats and a lady who takes care of the fishing grounds, continue fishing, managing the fishing grounds, and engaging in mudflat activities, keeping daily life in the fishing village alive.In this project, you will not just experience but also live and work with the residents, hearing the stories of those who live by the sea.Join us as we board a boat and go out to sea, and feel the warmth of the fishing village community that respects nature and helps each other as we work together on the mudflats.You will have the opportunity to stay as a neighbor in the village, meeting the sea and its people up close.

■ Location: Boryeong

Boryeong City, located in Chungcheongnam-do, is a marine city that represents our country with its beautiful West Sea, large and small islands, vast tidal flats, and green mountains. It is an attractive travel destination that many people visit year-round because of the world-famous Boryeong Mud Festival and various marine leisure activities and fishing village culture. Recently, with the opening of the Boryeong Undersea Tunnel and Wonsan-Anmyeon Bridge, access to the islands has improved, making it even easier to enjoy the beautiful nature of the West Sea and the daily life of fishing villages. In Boryeong, where the convenience of the city and the tranquility of the countryside coexist, you can experience a unique time with the wide sea views, warm people, and the lifestyle of fishing villages that live in harmony with nature.

1. Wonsando
Wonsando, a representative island of the West Sea, combines beautiful beaches, vast tidal flats, and charming fishing village life. Since the opening of the Boryeong Undersea Tunnel, it has gained attention as a new travel spot with improved accessibility, where you can enjoy the daily life of a tranquil island village amidst small harbors, sea roads, and stunning sunsets. Experience a variety of charms of West Sea fishing villages, including fishing, tidal flat experiences, and fresh seafood, all in one place.

2. Daecheon Beach
Daecheon Beach is a representative beach in Korea, famous for its wide and soft white sand and beautiful sunsets. Every summer, the world-renowned Boryeong Mud Festival takes place here, attracting many visitors who enjoy swimming and various marine activities. The beach is lined with walking paths, cafes, and great restaurants, allowing you to savor the relaxed views of the West Sea and enjoy its beauty at any time of the year.

3. Seongjusang Natural Recreation Forest
Seongjusang Natural Recreation Forest is a representative healing spot in Boryeong, featuring dense forests and clear valleys. Walking along the cedar tree paths and well-maintained trails allows visitors to enjoy the fresh scents of the forest and the relaxation of nature, making it a favorite among family travelers and trekking enthusiasts. Feel the beautiful nature of Boryeong fully in this place, which offers a different allure from the sea.

■ This project can start on any day of the week you prefer.

■ The minimum participation period is 1 weeks.

■ Target Participant and Eligibility 

• Anyone interested in sea fishing and fishing village life

• Anyone who wants to properly learn real sea fishing by boat

• Anyone who wants to experience real fishing village life

• Anyone considering or wanting to experience returning to fishing or rural life

• Anyone who wants to experience tidal flat activities, seafood gathering, fishery management, and other fishing village activities

• Anyone who wants to escape the city and experience a relaxed, slow-paced island village life

• Anyone who wants to start fishing as a hobby or properly learn how to fish

* You can check the procedures after applying on the website through your My Page.

* Please make your travel arrangements after the project participation is confirmed and you receive the final schedule.

1. No refunds are allowed after the project is confirmed due to personal reasons.

2. Participants are considered to agree to the refund policy as soon as they apply for the project.

3. This project has a strict refund policy. If you cancel before the project is confirmed, you will get a 100% refund.

4. The project schedule and details may change due to local factors like traffic or weather changes, and may be reduced or altered if necessary.

5. This project is run by a partner organization. Therefore, the local organization is responsible for the actual operation.

6. Please book transportation after you receive the final confirmation for the project. We will provide updates on the schedule after confirmation.