Ulleungdo Opens Its Table and Traditions in "A Walk Around the Neighborhood"

"A Walk Around the Neighborhood" heads to Ulleungdo this week, trading postcard scenery for the stories of the people who have shaped the island for generations. Through its food, rugged landscapes and close-knit communities, the KBS1 series reveals a side of Ulleungdo that visitors rarely experience.

Airing on July 18, Episode 379 marks the second installment of the program's two-part summer island special, "Ulleungdo Part 2: A Treasure Island of Abundance." Host Lee Man-ki follows the lives of island residents whose daily routines remain deeply connected to the sea and the mountains, uncovering a community where nature continues to shape both work and tradition.

Where Legends Meet the Sea

Photo courtesy of KBS1 "A Walk Around the Neighborhood"

The journey begins along Ulleungdo's coastal road, where dramatic cliffs, open waters and soaring black-tailed gulls frame one of the island's best-known landmarks, Samseonam.

Lee rides the shoreline to visit the towering sea stacks, which local legend says were once three heavenly maidens who descended from the skies and chose to remain on the island forever. Whether viewed through folklore or geology, the formations stand as enduring symbols of Ulleungdo, sculpted by centuries of wind and waves.

The episode also introduces Jang Won-seop, whose search for a different way of life ultimately brought him to the island. Raised in Seoul and later studying in Germany, he discovered kayaking and spent years traveling the world in search of pristine waters. Ulleungdo eventually became the place where that journey came to an end—and where a new chapter began.

Farming Above the Coastline

Photo courtesy of KBS1 "A Walk Around the Neighborhood"

Life on Ulleungdo's farms starts with a climb.

Because much of the island's farmland sits on steep mountainsides, monorails have become an essential means of transportation, carrying both farmers and their harvests to otherwise inaccessible fields.

Among the island's signature crops is bujigaengi, a native mountain herb known for its pleasantly bitter flavor and fragrant aroma. Producing it requires patience at every stage, from cultivation and harvesting to preparation.

The program meets an elderly couple who have spent more than six decades growing the herb. Even in their 80s, they continue making the trip to their hillside fields each day. What began as a way to support their family has evolved into a lifelong commitment, with every harvest reflecting years of resilience, dedication and quiet pride.

A Table That Tells Ulleungdo's Story

Photo courtesy of KBS1 "A Walk Around the Neighborhood"

The island's identity is perhaps best understood through its food.

In Naribunji, Lee sits down to a traditional meal featuring 16 varieties of seasonal mountain herbs, each prepared using recipes that have been passed down through generations. Rather than showcasing elaborate techniques, the spread reflects the island's ability to turn its rugged landscape into an abundant table.

The program also introduces Kim Du-sun, who built a new life on Ulleungdo after arriving from the mainland. What once felt unfamiliar gradually became home, and the cooking skills she learned from her mother-in-law have since become the foundation of her restaurant. Every dish she serves carries not only the flavors of the island but also the family's history.

Another stop highlights Ulleungdo-style wild mulhoe, a chilled seafood specialty prepared with freshly caught fish. The story extends beyond the meal itself to the family behind it. A father heads out before sunrise to fish, a mother runs the restaurant and a son moves between the harbor and the kitchen, illustrating how the island's seafood traditions continue through generations working side by side.

Where the Sea Has Always Felt Like Home

Photo courtesy of KBS1 "A Walk Around the Neighborhood"

The journey concludes in Jugam Village, where a lifelong island couple reflects on decades spent living beside the sea.

For them, the shoreline has never been simply a scenic backdrop. As children, they gathered barnacles from the rocks, and those familiar paths remain part of their daily routine today. They still walk the coast together in search of seasonal ingredients before returning home to share a modest meal overlooking the water.

Their story offers a portrait of an island community where neighbors have relied on one another for generations. On Ulleungdo, enduring relationships have become as much a part of the landscape as the cliffs and coastline themselves.

Blending spectacular scenery with deeply personal stories, "A Walk Around the Neighborhood" presents Ulleungdo not simply as a travel destination, but as a place where food, family and tradition continue to shape everyday life.

Episode 379, "Ulleungdo Part 2: A Treasure Island of Abundance," airs Saturday, July 18, at 7:10 p.m. KST on KBS1.

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