Annual four-day crab festival to open Feb. 28 around Hupo Port
ULJIN, North Gyeongsang Province -- A culinary specialty is what makes this county with a population just shy of 50,000 residents look most crowded in winter: snow crabs.
Most of the country’s crabbing takes place at Hupo Port, Uljin’s largest sitting at its southern tip along the east coast. Each winter, it draws thousands of visitors seeking ribbons of red and white meat, feathery soft and sweet.
The port is also where a wholesale market opens twice in the morning, usually at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., each for 30 minutes.
“Spotting the freshest of all is all about timing,” said Kim Hyung-min, 49, a vendor who has frequented the market for the last decade.
“You have to decide which crabs to take home ahead of the bidding, which doesn’t take the full 30 minutes. I look for those frantically moving their legs because I’ve found them particularly fresh,” Kim said of stacks of crabs lying on the port floor in a row with their bellies facing up.
Kim was right. The bidding was quick and the crabbers packed up their belongings to leave.
“Believe it or not, I just wanted to come out and see firsthand what it all looked like -- the morning market scene,” said Park Jong-won, a Gangneung resident traveling south and stopping at places known for local specialties.
Uljin isn’t just for foodies, however.
Those seeking seclusion in nature can find it at Geumgangsong Ecorium, an accommodation complex that accommodates up to 120 guests.
The compound is surrounded by pines, something Uljin is famous for. “Pine trees 100 years old or more here were used to make repairs to Gyeongbokgung,” said Park Jong-sik, an Uljin-appointed guide, referring to the signature Joseon-era (1392-1910) palace in Seoul.
Ecorium has a dedicated hall on the pines, Park added. The complex reserves separate spaces for personal rejuvenation programs, including one-on-one yoga and woodcarving lessons by instructors.
The rooms have no TV and the absence has long been appreciated, said an Uljin County official, who called the place “as therapeutic as it is refreshing.”
For those wanting to blow off steam in the woods, the Wolsongjeong trails could be refreshing. Wolsongjeong is a pavilion believed to have been built in the 15th century, facing the east and surrounded by pines.
Thrill seekers should try Deunggisan Skywalk, a glass-floored walkway stretching some 135 meters and standing some 20 meters tall behind Hupo Port. Entrants to the walkway, overlooking the East Sea, must cover their shoes with cloth booties. The bridge is closed when winds are too strong.
The annual four-day Uljin Snow Crab Festival will start Feb. 28 at Hupo Port. Interactive programs like crab catching and tasting will be available. The festival drew over 50,000 attendees over its four-day run last year.
“The quality of our crabs is unmatched, and that’s why we’ve been popular over the years,” an Uljin County official said.
The Donghae Line, a railway connecting major stops along the east coast from Gangneung to Pohang, has just opened Hupo Station, a five-minute drive to Hupo Port.
Festival officials are betting big on the opening, saying the annual event could see record attendance.
“A five-minute drive from the station to the port is a plus. We are now able to really reel in so many of those travelers on a scenic train tour that in the past just passed us by because there wasn’t a stop,” one official said.
Korail Tourism Development, a state-run company, is currently selling all-inclusive tour packages with tickets to trains starting at either Seoul Station or Bujeon Station in Busan. For more information on trip details, visit korailtravel.com and search for Uljin.
siyoungchoi@heraldcorp.com
