Hidden Stories of Jindo
A glimpse into the local culture
From Jindo dogs to Ga-in Song
Jindo is an island where the Jindo dog—an indigenous dog breed native to the island of Jindo that has helped keep Jindo people and their property safe for over a century—and traces of contemporary top trot singer Ga-in Song coexist. Jindo has some intriguing old stories to be told and living memories of the past.
Text by Yeong-eun Kim
Photos by Jindo County
Jindot dogs vs Jindo dogs: what are the differences?
▲ A Jindo dog energetically leaping across the grassy field.
The Jindo dog native to Jindo is widely regarded as the No. 1 Korean dog breed designated as Natural Monument No. 53. However, not all Jindot dogs are designated as Natural Monument or certified as Jindo dogs. Only Jindot dogs that pass the official inspection by the Jindo County government are designated as such. According to the grammatical rules of Korean language, when the two words Jindo and gae(dog) are combined, the Korean consonant “ㅅ” needs to be inserted between the two words to make it a compound word. Thus, it is supposed to read “Jindotgae” meaning “Jindot dog.” However, the Cultural Heritage Administration decided to adopt “Jindo dog” instead of “Jindot dog” as its official name, considering the fact that the dog is an important Korean dog breed and is native to Jindo. Jindo dogs have a relatively broad space between the eyes and the snout is long and sleek.
The tail is strong and straight up, which is why it is called “pole tail.” The Jindo dog has been able to maintain its unique physical features because they have been relatively isolated on the island of Jindo. While different breeds of dogs on mainland Korea have been mixed due to wars and diplomatic reasons, the Jindo dog has been confined to the island, allowing it to avoid cross-breeding and maintain its pure lineage. In 1937, Mori Damezo, a Japanese scholar and professor of Keiji Imperial University, wrote in an article he contributed to the Chosun Ilbo, a leading Korean daily newspaper: “The Jindo dog is known to be exceptionally gentle and loyal to its master, and it looks quite friendly. It also has an extremely well-developed sense of smell—a vital function for dogs to ensure its own safety—and it is highly alert and extremely smart.”
Jindo dogs cannot be taken outside of the island without permission. Depending on the number of Jindo dogs, taking a Jindo dog outside of the island may even require permission from the Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration and the governor of Jindo County. On the other hand, a dog can be brought into Jindo only after it goes through strict inspection including breed certification according to the criteria set by the Jindo Dog Certification Board. Dogs themselves would not care about lineage, but the Jindo dog certainly deserves to be protected and preserved given its historical significance and symbolic representation as an indigenous Korean dog
Singer Ga-in Song, the Daughter of Jindo
Singer Ga-in Song was born and raised in Jindo. As one of the hottest artists in pop music, Song was born in Aengmu-ri, Jisan-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do. She studied pansori, a traditional Korean musical story-telling performance that combines a solo singer and a drum accompaniment. She won the grand prize at the 2008 National Pansori Contest. Growing up in Jindo, Song is unsurprisingly a natural singer because Jindo Arirang, a Namdo (Southern) folk song, is designated as Local Cultural Heritage (intangible heritage) No. 1 of Jindo County. Later, Song debuted as a trot singer in 2012 and remained pretty much unknown for the next 7 years before rising to stardom after her appearance on a TV show. Today, Song is the pride of Jindo, and Aengmu-ri where she was born has been renamed “Song Ga-in Village.” There are many attractions dedicated to the singer throughout Jindo, including her birth home, Song Ga-in Road, and Song Ga-in Park. In Mokpo or Jindo-eup, you can take the Jindo City Tour Bus that runs every weekend to go to all the attractions.
▲ Songgain National Park