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[Anchor Lead]

Korea is surrounded by the sea on three sides. The peninsula's western and southern coasts are known for their tidal flats. The wetland in the west, in particular, is recognized as one of the world's five greatest. Korea's mudflats are also where you can find such activities as eel-catching and mud wrestling. Here are just a few of the ways to enjoy Korea's beautiful mudflats.

[Pkg]

This is the Yeonggwang tidal flat in Jeollanam-do Province, one of the most well-known mudflats on Korea's west coast. The Yeonggwang flat is a mixture of sand and mud. The fine muddy mixture is swept out to the sea during winter and returns again in summer, replenished with all the nutrients of the sea.

[Soundbite] Lim Jun-hae(Executive Committee Chair, Yeonggwang Tideland Festival) : "It is rich in minerals as the western tideland is among the world's five greatest wetlands."

These men standing on the mudflat appear eager yet tense. They're about to enter a one-legged fighting tournament. The last one standing will win the title.

[Soundbite] "Now get ready and the one-legged fight will start. Ready!"

The fight is on. But it's not easy to maintain balance on just one leg in the slippery mud. Only two contestants remain in a close battle. At last a decisive blow leaves only one man standing as victor. It was an exciting match even for the spectators.

[Soundbite] "There is going to be an eel-catching event soon. So I'm taking the eels there."

Now it's time for vacationers to try their hands at catching eels. About 150 eels were released onto the mudflats. This was an event organized to publicize the superior quality of Yeonggwang eels. People are brimming with anticipation even before the event starts.

[Soundbite] Jung Byeong-jun(Festival participant) : "I want to catch ten eels."

[Soundbite] "Ready!"

They sprint toward the flat at the start signal. They dig through the mud and even throw their whole bodies into it. But the elusive eels are tough to find. Even