Exploring foreign residents’ perceptions of recreational fishing experiences in South Korea

Abstract

This is an exploratory qualitative study of foreign anglers’ perceptions and experiences of fishing in South Korea. In the first stage of the study, a total of 56 original posts and the subsequent replies related to fishing in Korea posted on the website eslcafe.com were analyzed using Quirkos, a text analysis program. In the second stage, eight individuals who had experienced fishing in South Korea were interviewed via Zoom, a program for online meetings. Semi-structured questions asked in the interviews sought to explore the themes from the online analysis more deeply as the subjects were actively participating in the sport. The results showed that a consistent constraint for foreign anglers to participate in recreational fishing was a lack of information, particularly in English. To negotiate this constraint, they relied on word-of-mouth from other foreigners for information, both in-person and online. Foreigners sought out fishing opportunities for a variety of motivations, with many citing it as an opportunity to meet Korean anglers, relax, and relieve stress. In general, fishing satisfaction could be improved, with problems cited including catch quality, environmental degradation, and unsustainable fishing methods by local fishermen.