Narratives of Jeju Culture: An Emblem of Communal Spirit and Folk Beliefs

In the summer of 2024, I traveled around Jeju's 160-mile coastline, immersing myself in the lives of the Indigenous community. To record their stories, I conducted anthropological interviews, analyzed the transcripts, and organized them into this volume.

‘Narratives of Jeju Culture: An Emblem of Communal Spirit and Folk Beliefs’ is the first installment of the Treasure Island Book series, which aims to record and share authentic narratives of Jeju Indigenous People’s culture, way of life, and secrets of marvelous resilience. The Treasure Island Book series narrates the precious stories I have collected on my journey around Jeju’s 160-mile coastline, immersing myself in the lives, work, and culture of the Jeju native people. As its name suggests, this series is like a treasure map of Jeju culture; this book will immerse the readers in the communal spirit and folk beliefs that are manifested in Jeju culture.  

This book weaves in the testimonies I collected from Jeju native individuals to illuminate the significance of community spirit and folk beliefs to the Jeju native community. Community spirit and folk culture were crucial structures that the natives relied on to overcome the challenging living conditions on the island. Given infertile land and a harsh sea, distanced from the mainland, the natives were left to utilize what resources they had—a community and imagination—to survive. From Haenyeo’s redistribution of harvests to communal participation in marriage celebrations, folk practices nurtured a tight-knit support system that promoted psychological, physical, and social well-being. Meanwhile, from goddesses of childbirth to healing ceremonies, folk beliefs and rituals provided psychological relief for prevalent occurrences of accidents, illness, and death. Jeju natives’ folk culture and beliefs reflect their incredible optimism, resilience, and resourcefulness.

Treasure Island Book’s Anthropological Report Series 1

Book title: Narratives of Jeju Culture: An Emblem of Communal Spirit and Folk Beliefs

Author: Remy Woobin Lee

ISBN #: 9791141937720

Pages: 81 pages

Publisher: www.bookk.co.kr

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