Legend of Byeoljubujeon - Bito Do Island

Even though it was blazing hot and humid, I wanted to have the family get out and explore. We we settled on nearby Bito Do Island.

We pulled up to this sweet bunny statue and bunny farm.

Turns out it is not such a sweet story. Here is the Legend Of Byeoljubujeon, related to Woldeungdo, Rabbit Island, Turtle Island, and Mok Island. There are several versions out there because it is an oral folktale, but this is the main idea:

Once upon a time, there was a rabbit couple living happily around Bito Island. One day the rabbit couple was deceived by the sweet talk of a bewildered housewife (turtle) who was sent by the Namhae Sea Dragon. The husband rabbit rides on the turtle to Younggung Palace, which is in the sea. Upon arrival, the rabbit learned the dragon king was sick and needed a rabbit liver. Realizing he was going to die, the rabbit told a tale about his liver being hung to dry in a cassia tree on the hillside on every half moon.  The Sea Dragon King believed the rabbit and told the turtle housewife to bring him back to his land. The rabbit then rode the turtle back home. When they arrived off the coast of Woldeungdo Island, the rabbit saw the island reflected in the moonlight. He mistakingly jumped on the land reflected by the moonlight into the water and died on the spot, creating a rabbit-shaped island (Tokki Island). The turtle housewife would not return to the palace because she was worried about being punished by the Dragon King, and she became an island shaped like a turtle (Turtle Island). Mrs. Rabbit died anxiously awaiting her husband's return while staring at the South Sea every day from the tip of the stone. She fell off the rock tip and died, becoming an island (Mok Island). Currently, residents of Woldeungdo Island have called it Doldang Island after the first letter of "Come back".

There was a big camp ground and park, but it was closed, because, Corona. We found this little gem, though. Clearly this statue is on the way to the palace before the rabbit learns his liver is about to be harvested and the turtle runs away from the Dragon King in fear (well, as fast as a turtle can run anyway).

Here are a bunch of fishing sticks poking out of the water along the shore.

The drive on the island was pretty and I tried to capture it. Obviously I did not succeed. These are the Bito Island Mud Flats. They are 'a coast living preservation site and recognized for being a tourist experience for natural ecology.'

Purple shirts for the trifecta.

[August 4]