1,400 Years of Salt-Making Wisdom... Gochang Jayeom Seeks National Important Fisheries Heritage Designation

10 Billion KRW in Support Over Three Years if Designated

"Embodying Both the Wisdom of Ancestors and the Region's History"

The traditional salt production method of Gochang in Jeonbuk, known as 'Jayeom' (boiled salt), is seeking designation as a National Important Fisheries Heritage. Gochang County plans to submit an application for designation to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries within this year and, together with local residents, will work to preserve the production techniques and historical value of Jayeom.

On the 7th, Gochang County in Jeonbuk held a "Resident Council for the Designation of Gochang Salt as a National Important Agricultural Heritage" meeting at the Jayeom Experience Center in Sadeung Village, Simwon-myeon. About 15 participants, including county officials, contractors, experts, and village residents, attended the meeting. Provided by Gochang County Office

According to Gochang County on August 11th, a meeting of the 'Gochang Jayeom National Important Fisheries Heritage Designation Resident Council' was held on August 7th at the Sacheong Salt Experience Center in Sadeung Village, Simwon-myeon, with about 15 attendees including county officials, contractors, experts, and village residents.

This meeting shared updates on the ongoing work for the National Important Fisheries Heritage designation and discussed the roles and collaboration of residents who have maintained the Jayeom production sites.

In particular, since Jayeom production requires skilled techniques such as controlling the intensity of the fire during the process, recording the traditional methods possessed by residents was highlighted as a key initiative. The county plans to organize schedules and production processes for Jayeom, which will be utilized in future heritage designation and preservation efforts.

If designated as a National Important Fisheries Heritage, Gochang County will receive a total of 1 billion KRW in support—700 million KRW from the national government and 300 million KRW from local funds—over a period of three years. The county intends to use the secured budget for improving Jayeom production environments and related facilities, developing experiential programs, creating Jayeom-specialized products, and producing a documentary to promote traditional Jayeom.

The plan goes beyond simply maintaining production facilities and aims to develop Jayeom into tourism and experiential content that allows visitors to experience Gochang’s history and fishing village culture.

Gochang Jayeom is believed to have continued since the Baekje era about 1,400 years ago. According to legend, Monk Geomdan, who founded Seonunsa Temple, taught the method of salt making to villagers to help them make a living, marking the origin of Jayeom.

Jayeom, which involves boiling seawater from the Gochang tidal flats to produce salt, differs in production method from solar salt, which is obtained by evaporating seawater under the sun. Combined with the local legend of 'Boeun-yeom', Gochang Jayeom is recognized as a cultural heritage that encompasses not only a salt production technology but also the region’s history and folklore.

Sim Duk-seop, Mayor of Gochang County, stated, "Gochang Jayeom carries the wisdom of our ancestors and the region’s history. With the designation as a National Important Fisheries Heritage, we will continue the legacy of traditional fisheries and bring new vitality to local fishing villages."

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