The National Folk Museum of Korea and Jeollanam-do have been conducting a
cooperative project, “2011 The Year of Jeonnam Folk Culture” and as a part of the
project, salt, a specialized product of Jeollanam-do, has been chosen as the subject of the special exhibition.
The exhibition is divided into largely 3 parts. Part 1 is to sense the sun, the sea, the mud flat and the wind required in making sea salt. Part 2 deals with the theme of the solar-evaporated sea salt production of Jeollanam-do, equipments, warehouse, salt farmers, and traditional sea salt from boiled seawater. Part 3 displays salted preserves, transportation and transaction, folktales, religion, and various salt products. Also, multimedia displays and hands-on experience are installed for the visitor to easily understand the salt production and the culture relating to salt.
To understand the process of the solar-evaporated sea salt production of the Jeonnam province, various equipments used at salt works are displayed to explain science and rationality of the salt production. Also, the meaning of the salt farmer’s labor through everyday objects from the farmer’s life and a film footage of a salt farmer’s day in Bigeumdo island is shown. Moreover, various objects detailing the history of sea salt and older sea salt production method from Chungnam, Taean and Jeonbuk, Gochang are exhibited.
This section displays a variety of cultural phenomenon related to salt. Making salted preserves, sales and distributions of salt, salt and folk religion, folktales and uses of salt are explained with equipments and other exhibit materials. Also, visitors can taste different kinds of salt and can try to throw salt to prevent bad luck.