[iNews24 reporter Park Jun-pyo] Boryeong’s signature seafood festival, led by spring delicacies jjukkumi (webfoot octopus) and flatfish, kicks off on the 20th in Muchangpo. With delicious eats, hands-on activities and a mysterious tidal path, this 17-day celebration is expected to draw visitors to the seaside town.
Boryeong’s flagship seafood event, the “2026 Muchangpo Jjukkumi (Webfoot Octopus) & Flatfish Festival,” celebrates its 23rd year. The festival opens with a ceremony on the 20th and runs through April 5 around Muchangpo Port and the nearby beach.
Hosted by the Muchangpo Fisheries Cooperative, the festival spotlights jjukkumi and flatfish, Boryeong’s springtime specialties. Organizers have lined up food stalls and interactive programs designed to attract tourists and boost the local economy.
![Festival poster [photo=Boryeong City]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2026/03/CP-2023-0087/image-ad6301e9-b8f2-4982-8fed-2a09915cc1f1.jpeg)
The opening ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. with a high-energy Nanta percussion performance by the Pungakjaengi troupe. Official proceedings and performances by invited musical guests start at 6:00 p.m.
At the venue, visitors can try the mysterious tidal path experience, join a children’s barehand fishing event, or take part in karaoke contests for tourists and residents—along with numerous food booths serving dishes centered on jjukkumi and flatfish.
Jjukkumi, the festival’s star, is a spring delicacy that defines Muchangpo. In March and April, foodies flock to Muchangpo Port to savor the seasonal catch.
Flatfish also plays an important role in spring dining. As the saying goes, “flatfish in spring, gizzard shad in fall”—flatfish is at its best in spring and is caught along the coast near Muchangpo alongside jjukkumi, adding to the festival’s bounty.
Another must-see is the mysterious tidal path. Because of tidal differences, an S-shaped path appears across a 1.5㎞ (0.93-mile) stretch between Muchangpo Beach and Seokdaedo, a spectacle locals liken to a modern-day parting of the Red Sea.
During the festival, the tidal path can be experienced at these times: March 21 at 11:42 a.m.; March 22 at 12:20 a.m.; April 1 at 9:51 a.m.; April 2 at 10:28 a.m.; and April 3 at 11:01 a.m.
