Living Information

Jindo is a small island just off the southwest point of the Korean peninsula.

Life on the island is uneventful and serene most of the time, but things are very different when some million people flock there to see what is referred to as a modern day "Miracle of Moses" in Korea.

Like the famous parting of the Red Sea by Moses in the Old Testament, the ocean literally parts, revealing a long strip of dry land like a causeway 2.8 kilometers long and 40 meters wide that lies above sea level. This happens from once to three times a year, depending on lunar cycles.

Moses' Miracle at Jindo in Jeollanam-do (province) is a unique natural phenomenon.

Roughly one million visitors from Korea and abroad come to the Jindo Sea-Parting Festival to witness the sea become land against the backdrop of local folksongs and the special Korean dance named Gang-gang-sullae.

Although this magical phenomenon was first made known to the world when Pierre Randi, at the time French Ambassador to Korea, came to visit the area in 1975 and wrote about it in a French newspaper, it is not yet known very well around the world.

But now efforts are underway to change that lack of renown.

Residents of Jindo are trying to make the unusual wonder of nature receive the international recognition they feel it deserves.

When the Jindo Sea-Parting Festival is held from May 5-7 this year, Jindo residents will attempt to set world records for two things: one for the longest natural land route through the sea and one for having the most number of people on it.

For its name to be inscribed in the “History and Society- People & Place” category in the Guinness World Records, Jindo residents are asking as many visitors as possible to attend the Jindo Sea-Parting Festival to help reach the desired amount.

Anybody, regardless of age, gender, weight, is welcome to take part in the event and help Jindo gain more international recognition it deserves.

The number of people on the causeway will be recorded with special equipment and will also be videotaped and photographed. The measurements and recordings will be sent to the headquarters of Guinness World Records for evaluation.

It will be an unforgettable experience, not only to walk on the ocean literally but also to join Jindo residents as they anxiously see and wait if their treasured natural phenomenon will really make it into the Guinness World Records.

By Han Aran
Korea.net Staff Writer