Documentary Empathy 'Gageodo 樂' Gageodo, the most southwestern island in Korea, can be reached by boat for over four hours from Mokpo. It is an island 145km from the mainland, so remote that the Korean War was only heard of in rumors. About 550 people live here, with a total area about three times that of Yeouido in Seoul. It was once a prosperous island with a population of 1,500, but many people left for the mainland to make a living. This secluded island becomes hot with the passion of people in the winter. Gageodo fishermen compete with 'bulbolrak', the bread and butter of their families, and anglers from all over the country compete with red sea bream. We meet the winter scenery of Gageodo, which they all call 'an island where people can live'. ▶ How to get to Gageodo An island that can be reached by departing from Mokpo and passing Bigeum, Dochodo, Damuldo, Heuksando, and Taedo. The only boat that can go from the mainland to Gageodo operates once a day. Even on days when the wind is blowing or the waves are high, it is often canceled. Most passengers disembark at Heuksando and after passing Taedo, there are hardly any other passengers on the ship. A father and son, who are both students and are very excited about their first trip together despite the long voyage, and a fisherman who has been visiting every winter for the past 30 years, head to Gagado with dreams of catching a big catch. ▶ The oldest active fisherman, Goheungsan Grandfather and Gageodo seagulls When Goheungsan Grandfather comes back from fishing, the women of Gageodo gather at the dock. This is because he shares the fish he has caught with difficulty, leading his old men, without any compensation. The grandfather, who barely has enough left for side dishes, takes care of the guests, and the eldest daughter, who is worried about her father who is busy sharing rather than collecting, despite working hard all his life, expresses her affectionate complaints, but to no avail. The grandfather never sends away empty-handed those who visit his home. ▶ A fisherman's paradise, if you come to Gageodo in search of emotional dom, your body will improve for several months - Han Jin-seok/Fisherman Gageodo, along with Chujado and Geomundo, is one of the best fishing spots in the country. In particular, there is a fish that is so special that it competes with anglers to the end. The 'emotional dom', which is called the fisherman's dream, is often caught in the winter, so the fishing fever is high on the rocks. Anglers come from all over the country to taste this taste. It is a time to recharge from the daily life of running forward as if being chased. ▶ Bulbulrak, the bread and butter of Gageodo people On an island where land is precious, the sea is the only lifeline. Right now, Gageodo is in season for the heat called 'bulbolrak' because its entire body is red. The sea in front of Gageodo is where warm and cold currents meet, and bulbolrak has been a golden fishing ground both in the past and present. However, unlike the younger fishermen, Grandfather’s boat cannot go far and instead fishes nearby, so the harvest is not good. To make matters worse, the rope breaks. In a situation where he can only be at a loss, he hurriedly finishes fishing. On days like today when the harvest is not good, Grandfather Goheungsan gives up his share to the crew. However, the crew members who were upset did not come to the port the next day. ▶ Daughters who went to sea While the crew members were depressed due to the strike, the second daughter came in from Mokpo. As soon as they arrived home, the daughters set out to cheer their father up. When it comes to the best scenery in Gageodo, you cannot miss the long, 100-meter-high island climbing peninsula. Grandfather is also in a good mood because of the rare outing, and the daughters give him carnations made from wild grass as a gift. Flowers for their father who devoted his life to his family, they are the most beautiful flowers in the world, simple but filled with the daughters’ sincerity. Grandfather is happy today because he has such lively daughters. And the next day, the daughters went out to sea with their father. Although the harvest was not great, it was a valuable day. Because I have experienced my father's tough 60-year life as a fisherman. The daughters will go out to sea with their father tomorrow too. Looking back on the 80 years of my life on Gageodo, Goheungsan Grandfather, it is, as the old saying goes, 'an island where people can live.' #Gageodo #SouthwesternmostIsland #RemoteIsland