The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage (Lee Kyu Hoon, Director's representative) presents its special exhibition of 2022 entitled 'Sea, Ship, Beliefs' at the Mokpo Maritime Museum from July 29 to November 20 to mark the 3rd Island Day. 

Korea is a peninsula surrounded by water on three sides; hence, various maritime beliefs have been passing down along coastal regions. This exhibition reveals the stories of the people who adapt themselves to sea and make lives with the sea. Traditional religious beliefs and practices protect fishermen’s lives in an ever-changing sea, where abundance and disaster coexist. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage hopes this exhibition enables visitors to explore the lives of the fishermen who sublimated the desire for an abundant catch of fish and safety at sea into community festivals. 

The first theme is 'Ships, Crossing over the Sea of Life and Fear'. Ships are vital to people who depend on seas, rivers or lakes for their way of life and their live -lihoods. While the art of boat building and sailing skills have continuously advanced, dangers faced by the fishermen are unavoidable. Varieties of boat rituals and worship of the boat guardian deities are therefore performed by fishing communities in Korea.

The second theme is 'Sea God, Worshiped as a Guardian Deity of Nation and the People'. Since ancient time, people believed that deities who rule earth, sea, and sky. Celestial god and water god, in particular, are worshiped not only for well-being of individual and community, but also for peace in the royal family, national defense, and navigational safety. Sea god rituals were held not only by the state, but also by local officials and civilians to express gratitude for the favors of spiritual beings.

The third theme is 'Fishermen, Praying for Safety and a Big Catch'. Wishing for an abundant catch and safe navigation, fishermen worshiped deities. Maritime rituals refer to a number of rites held in the coastal regions, such as sea, island, docks and seaside. Dangje of the west coast, pungeoje and byeolsije of the eastern and southern coasts are typical communal rites. Pungeoje(ritual for big catch) was a ceremonial process to summon aid from various sea gods, aiming at encouraging a bounteous catch and ensuring a safe return to harbours.

The fourth theme is 'Boats, Guiding Souls from Sea to Heaven'. In Korean Shamanism, a death ritual is held to app-ease both the living and the dead. In shamanic rites, the boat as a symbol was treated as a vehicle to transport individuals to the Otherworld with confidence and comfort. During shamanic death ceremonies, shamans either went directly to the sea by boat or floated a miniature of straw ship on the beach, and prayed for the spirit of the dead to leave this world and safely move to heaven.  

The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage hopes that the exhibition entitled "Sea, Ship and Belief” will deepen visitors’ understanding of the way of life of fishermen in the past. The rituals preserved in fishing villages across Korea were developed by fishing communities over a long period of time as an integral part of their way of life, in which abundance coexisted with fear. The traditional sea belief believed that individuals and their entire community, and humans, nature and local deities all assisted each other in ensuring their safety and prosperity, and consequently developed rituals that reflected their worship. The National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage expects that this exhibition will contribute to restoring the traditional rituals of Korean fishing communities and preserving them for future generations as a crucial element of the marine folk cultural heritage.