July's seafood picks: croaker and abalone; fishing villages to visit: Ansan and Uljin

Croaker and abalone have been named July's featured seafood. As the peak summer vacation season gets underway, Jonghyeon Village in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, and Gusan Village in Uljin-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, have been selected as this month's recommended fishing village destinations.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Wednesday its picks for July across five categories: seafood, fishing village travel destinations, marine life, lighthouse and uninhabited island.

Croaker, one of this month's featured seafood selections, is widely regarded as a quintessential summer stamina food. Its mild smell and tender yet springy flesh make it suitable for a range of preparations, including raw slices, grilling and braised dishes. Abalone is equally prized as a restorative seafood. Rich in magnesium and taurine, it is commonly enjoyed as porridge, grilled or steamed.

Jonghyeon Village in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, and Gusan Village in Uljin-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, were chosen as July's fishing village travel destinations. Jonghyeon Village offers a range of hands-on activities — tidal flat clam digging, mudflat sledding and bare-handed fish catching. The village also sits close to the Daebuhaesolgil trail and the Gubongdo sunset observatory, making it a good spot to take in the West Sea sunset.

Gusan Village in Uljin runs a variety of marine experiences, including transparent boat rides, trap fishing, clam gathering and angling. Visitors can also explore nearby historical and cultural sites such as Gusan Beach, Daepungheon and a hands-on center dedicated to "suto" maritime patrol culture, and sample seasonal seafood including octopus and sea mustard.

The coral seahorse has been named this month's featured marine creature. The smallest seahorse species found in Korean waters, it breeds actively in summer and is notable for an unusual reproductive habit in which the male gives birth. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the coral seahorse as Vulnerable on its Red List of threatened species.

The Incheon Port Lock Gate North Breakwater Lighthouse — known as Wolmi Light — on Wolmido island in Jung-gu, Incheon, has been selected as this month's featured lighthouse. Newly renovated this year, the lighthouse guides vessels navigating the lock gate and also operates a media facade themed around the gray whale.

Meokdo, an uninhabited island in Deokjeok-myeon, Ongjin-gun, Incheon, has been named this month's featured uninhabited island. Located about 1 kilometer south of Deokjeokdo, Meokdo is a semi-conservation uninhabited island with diverse geological scenery — coastal cliffs and sea caves — and is home to pine forests and various wildlife including the Eurasian oystercatcher.

"We hope the public will use this month's seafood and fishing village travel picks as an opportunity to experience the charm of Korea's seas and marine products up close," a ministry official said.