[INTERVIEW] Jeju researcher transforms Ieodo folklore into modern fairy tale

Choi Mi-kyung, a researcher at the Society of Ieodo Research, holds her first book "Ieodot Halmang," which translates into "The Old Lady Who Came from Ieodo" in Jeju dialect, in Jeju City, Jeju Island, June 16. The fairy tale is a modern recreation of folklore from Ieodo, a southernmost submerged rock that Jeju islanders once believed to be the home of the spirits of dead fishermen. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Jeju folktale gains new spotlight with creative imagination, strong Jeju female figures

By Lee Hae-rin

JEJU ISLAND ― Located off the southern coast of Jeju Island, a submerged rock known as Ieodo emerges only when the waves are high. This reef holds a significant place in the local folklore of Jeju Islanders as it is revered as a sacred place for the spirits of dead fishermen.

Choi Mi-kyung, a member of the Society of Ieodo Research, has breathed new life into these tales with her book "Ieodot Halmang," which translates into Korean as "The Old Lady Who Came from Ieodo," published last October. The book combines elements of Jeju's history, culture and strong female figures, transforming scattered folk tales and work songs into a modern fantasy fairy tale.

Located 149 kilometers from Mara Island, Korea's southernmost island, Ieodo, also known internationally as Socotra Rock, is a subject of territorial dispute between Korea and China, as it falls within the overlap of their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

The Society of Ieodo Research is a Jeju-based think tank founded in 2007 and has been promoting awareness and understanding of the reef through research, education and publishing various materials on its historical, geological and economic significance.

Choi shared the story behind writing her first fairy tale with The Korea Times on June 15, after the seventh edition of the Ieodo International Seminar held on Jeju Island.

The story revolves around the Gangshim's adventure to rescue her husband Godongji, a horse keeper stranded on Ieodo during his voyage to offer horses to the Yuan Dynasty, which then had influence over the island.

"Ieodo folktales, orally transmitted through generations among islanders, briefly mention Gangshim as a daughter of a marine merchant, but I wanted to recreate and modernize the character," the 55-year-old researcher said, adding that she wanted her Gangshim to differ from typical female characters in old tales, who are often portrayed as just beautiful and devoted daughters and wives.

"Gangshim, as her name means, is a woman with a strong heart. She is smart and brave enough to sail through the stormy oceans by herself," Choi said.

She explained that Gangshim's courageous, hardworking, competent and wise character draws from the real-life experiences of Jeju women, reflecting the island's geography which often requires women to become the breadwinners in their families, according to studies by scholars associated with the organization.

In this illustration by Kim Do-hyun in Choi Mi-kyung's "Ieodot Halmang," Godongji the horsekeeper is caught in a typhoon on his way to offer Jeju-born horses to the Yuan Dynasty. The horses are blindfolded to prevent sea sickness as Jeju sailors did in old times. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

While working as an administrative staffer of the research center from 2009 to 2017, Choi was responsible for organizing the group's research documents, publishing biannual academic journals on Ieodo as well as handling media communications regarding international disputes surrounding the underwater reef. Her experience provided her with a wealth of knowledge and resources to draw upon for her story.

"Although I did not take part in research myself at the time, there was enough input of information that I could later use as materials for my story," Choi said. "The story's historical and geographical background are based on historical truths from the works of scholars associated with the research center."

To recreate Gangshim's story, which Choi felt had been overlooked in academic studies, she enrolled in the creative writing and literary contents studies program at the Korea National Open University in 2015 at the age of 47 and earned a master's degree to prove her expertise in literary writing.

In Choi's story, as believed by ancient Jeju islanders, Ieodo is a dimension between the world of humans and gods, where lost fishermen are cared for by the Dragon King's beautiful daughters. In her personal life, Ieodo is like her "other self," which opened a new chapter in her life as an author ― a life-long-cherished dream she put behind while living as the breadwinner of a family with three children.

"It's like a diamond, which could be just a rock but has an extremely high value with people's recognition. Like that, I know what Ieodo is worth, how special and precious it is for us Koreans," she said.

Currently, the book is published by the research center, a nonprofit organization under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and thus is prohibited from making profit and is not available for sale. Choi hopes for the book to reach a larger audience and is exploring ways to do so, possibly by selling the publication rights to another company.

"I hope that one day, everyone to recognize the value and importance of Ieodo, just as I have come to," Choi said.