Oeyeondo is a solitary island situated far offshore in the West Sea of Korea. Its name literally means a 'far island veiled in smoke,' which describes the dim, distant view of this island from the mainland. From the port of Daecheon, the journey to this island lasts over two hours and thirty minutes. Locals say that on a windless day, they can hear roosters cawing at the daybreak, on the Chinese side.

A noteworthy offering at the fishing rite of Oeyeondo is jitae. Jitae is an ox or cow brought from the mainland and slaughtered at the village guardian god's shrine, right before the start of the rite. Jitae is considered the most valuable sacrifice to the god of fishing.

The fishing rite of Oeyeondo Island goes back four hundred years, to mid-Joseon. On the eve of Jeongwol Boreum, the Lunar 15th of January, the ceremony is officially underway when the hwaju – the person in charge of providing or preparing offerings- ascends the mountain where the village shrine is located, laden with sacrificial offerings.

In Oeyeondo, the fishing rite is held together with rites for various other gods. A mountain spirits' rite and the rite for General Jeonhoeng, considered the patron god of fishing, are two of the first rites to be performed.

The ceremony gets officially underway when the shaman lights candles and incense inside the shrine of General Jeonhoeing.

One thing quite unusual about the way the altar is set up is the clothes placed on the spirit tablet. The man's traditional outfit, they say, is for General Jeonhoeng, and two women's outfits for his wife and daughter.

Much care goes into the preparation of sacrificial food. Rice is carefully sorted, and masks are worn during the preparation of food.

The shaman hangs paper talismans, known as "gilji," on the walls of the shrine. After the ritual, gilji are handed out to the participants. The one who is lucky enough to be given the first gilji and hangs it aboard his boat can hope to enjoy an abundant catch throughout the year and peace in his household.

As the night wears on, it is now time to perform the rite for mountain gods. Interestingly, a gong is struck each time when the participants bow to the altar. (Sound of the gong)

By striking the gong, they are perhaps hoping to call the attention of those who are down in the village to the rite underway, so that they may join their prayers with those of the participants

After the mountain spirits' rite, they proceed to the slaughtering of the ox. The freshly-killed animal is bled. The blood is offered at the altar of the Dragon King during the rite held onboard a boat at sea, as well as at the altar of the village guardian god during the village rite.

The organs of the ox are cooked and offered at the altar of the General, together with its meat. The rite concludes with soji, the burning of paper sheets containing prayers for the peace of the village and an abundant catch.

Toward the daybreak, they start packing and loading the sacrificial food, all the while performing pungmul.

They put some of the meat underneath a large rock they call the "General Jeonhoeing Rock" before they merrily descend the mountain, while loudly striking their drums and gongs.

For the fishing rite proper, an altar is set up at the wharf, decorated with colorful flags fluttering in the wind.

To pray for a good catch and the safety of mariners, they scatter sacrificial food mixed with ox blood. Since they made the precious offering of ox blood, people of Oeyeondo are confident that their prayers will be heard, and their wishes will come true.

While cheerful tunes are played by the village band, the shaman and village dignitaries board a boat to head out to the open sea where they will hold a rite for the Dragon King.

At the end of the rite, some of the sacrificial food is wrapped in gilji, the paper talismans used during the ceremony, and thrown into the sea in prayer for an abundant catch and the welfare of the village.

Finally, a small boat laden with food is sent off to the open sea to thus drive away bad luck and misfortune and ward off evil spirits. This picturesque ritual performed in honor of the Dragon King is doubtless the high point of the event.

gilji, the paper talismans used during the ceremony, and thrown into the sea in prayer for an abundant catch and the welfare of the village. Finally, a small boat laden with food is sent off to the open sea to thus drive away bad luck and misfortune and ward off evil spirits. This picturesque ritual performed in honor of the Dragon King is doubtless the high point of the event. This small West-sea island, blessed with a pristine, unsullied natural environment, is a wonderful protective enclave for vanishing tradition and culture, including this festival from time immemorial.