Visit Uljin - the snow crab 'capital' of Korea

Hupo Port in Uljin, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. (Source: Getty Images)

"Specialty" of kimchi land

In the coastal town of Uljin (North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea), snow crab is not only a delicious dish but also a symbol of tradition and regional culinary uniqueness.

In winter, food lovers everywhere come to Uljin to enjoy snow crab when it is freshest, most flavorful and most succulent.

Kim Tuk-yong, 70, a resident of Uljin, said the snow crabs’ main habitat is Wangdolcho, an underwater reef about 23 kilometers east of Hupo Port. This fertile land lies where cold and warm currents meet. It is home to a variety of thriving creatures and pristine sand dunes, with clear waters that maintain a temperature of around 2-3 degrees Celsius year-round.

Snow crab meat is richer in winter. (Source: Getty Images)

According to the Korea Times , there are two types of snow crab in Uljin: white-bellied or red-bellied. White-bellied snow crabs tend to be sweeter, while red-bellied crabs have a rounder flavor.

Crab fishermen and locals in Uljin advise diners to enjoy snow crab when it is freshest, especially right at the place of catching it to fully experience the sweet, succulent flavor of this dish.

Mr. Lim Hyo-chul (57 years old), owner of a snow crab restaurant in Uljin, said this type of seafood often appeared on the royal banquet table and winter is the ideal time to enjoy it.

Sharing how to choose a delicious crab, Mr. Lim said that some people always want to choose the biggest one, but the secret to choosing a delicious snow crab is to gently press on its belly.

“A good snow crab has a strong belly. If you press on it and it feels a bit firm, and its legs and claws move quickly, it is a good crab. Some crabs, although large in size, if they are too light, may be flat and not have much meat,” said Mr. Lim.

A catcher puts snow crabs in plastic crates for auction at Hupo Port. (Source: Korea Times)

According to Lim Hyo-chul, flipping the crabs upside down and steaming them is the best way to enjoy the original flavor of the crab meat without any seasoning. As he instructed the steaming process, Lim lifted the lid of a large iron pot. In the pot, dozens of steamed snow crabs were hidden amidst the rising steam, making the crowd of diners gasp in delight, eagerly waiting to enjoy this attractive dish.

Economic benefits

According to the Korea Times , on the east coast of Korea, the coastal town of Uljin is famous for being the largest supplier of snow crabs in Korea. Every year, this place harvests 7,000 - 12,000 tons of crabs.

Every morning, Hupo Port is bustling with the scene of fishermen and seafood wholesalers auctioning off freshly caught snow crabs.

Here, fishermen will line up hundreds of live snow crabs on the ground, with their white bellies facing up to prevent them from crawling away. Vendors will gather around this area to find the freshest crabs.

Lim Joon-sik, 44, a crab buyer at the port, said the price of snow crabs varies from day to day, depending on the quantity caught. Each crab can cost up to 20,000 won (US$14) to 30,000 won (nearly US$21).

To get a high price, fishermen will not sell crabs that are less than 9cm long. In addition, they always check the number of legs and whether they have 10 legs including the claws, Mr. Lim Joon-sik added.

Every winter, Uljin is a popular destination for many seafood lovers. Recognizing the needs of diners, the neighborhood around Hupo Port alone has about 90 restaurants selling snow crab along with other seafood. Many places also open delivery services, providing steamed snow crab on the same day, bringing in a significant source of revenue.

Quality crates of snow crab. (Source: Getty Images)

Not only famous for snow crabs, Uljin also possesses beautiful coastal scenery and majestic mountains like paintings. To attract tourists, this locality is expanding many tourism programs associated with railways.

The opening of the Donghae Nambu Railway and Uljin Station last month has made Uljin an easily accessible destination from all over Korea.

In addition, to promote tourism and introduce local seafood specialties, the Uljin government organizes the annual Snow Crab Festival, attracting about 50,000 visitors each season. This year, the event takes place from February 28 to March 3 with many special activities.

Through promotion and advertising programs, Uljin hopes to boost tourism and increase consumption of seafood, especially snow crab.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ghe-tham-uljin-thu-phu-cua-tuyet-cua-han-quoc-305058.html