Skates, 'Taste of South Region,’ will be listed 'UNESCO world heritage?

'Skate’ is one of the representative foods of Jeollanam-do and Gwangju. It is the only fish that is aged, and its tangy flavor is considered a delicacy. In the southern provinces, it is a staple at weddings and 60th birthday celebrations.

Local governments in Jeollanam-do are jointly promoting a plan to have skates listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. On the 16th, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Mokpo and Naju City announced that they had signed a 'Business Agreement for the Joint Promotion of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Listing of Skate Food Culture'. The local governments will form a council to share data related to skate, including fishing, distribution, and food, as well as academic research.

Skate is best caught in Heuksando Island in Sinan. Skate is caught using the traditional longline method. In 2021, skate fishing in Heuksando Island was designated as a nationally important fishing heritage. There are 16 fishing boats that use the traditional method of catching skates on the island.

Skates caught on the island are sold in Mokpo and Naju. Mokpo is the closest land port to the island, with many shops selling cleaned skates and the city has prepared skates as return gifts for the Hometown Love Donation Program.

Naju, an inland city, is also famous for its skates. Near Yeongsanpo, Naju, where ships used to come and go before the Yeongsan River was built, there is a 'skate street' lined with restaurants selling skates. It took more than five days to travel by boat from Heuksando Island to Yeongsanpo, and as skates matured naturally during that time, Yeongsanpo became a representative place for skate food.

In April, the local government also submitted an application for the designation of the 'skate food culture' as a national cultural heritage. "The culture of eating skate has been around for a long time, from prehistoric times to the present day, and the fermented skate has its own unique specialty that cannot be found in other countries," said Park Woo-ryang, vice governor of Shinan-gun, adding, "We will do our best to have it listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity."

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.