According to a report by Money Today on Thursday, a large quantity of eel was delivered to the Yongsan government complex in Seoul on December 6, three days after South Korea’s December 3 martial law.
The media outlet reported that 56 kg (123 pounds) of eel were delivered to the reception desk of the Yongsan complex, which houses the Presidential Office, Ministry of National Defense, and Joint Chiefs of Staff. The boxes containing the eel were marked with the note, “Shipped on December 5, to be delivered on December 6.”
It remains unclear which institution the recipient belonged to. A seafood industry expert told Money Today that 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of eel can generously feed two to three adults, suggesting that 56 kg could serve 110 to 160 people.
The expert noted that this quantity is typically seen only in specialized eel restaurants. Most regular establishments usually order around 10 kg (22 pounds) per order. Even in cafeteria settings, orders exceeding 50 kg are considered unusual.
A wholesaler who sells freshwater eel stated, “Recently, I supplied 15 kg to a catering company. Occasionally, eel bowl restaurants order 60 kg, but such large orders exceeding 50 kg are rare.” Another individual who has handled supplies for the Yongsan complex remarked, “They occasionally order eel, so I thought they just liked it, but this amount was exceptionally large.”
The day of the eel delivery corresponds to November 6 on the lunar calendar. In the sexagenary cycle, this day is interpreted as Gapjin Year, Byeongja Month, and Gapjin Day, which signifies the “Blue Dragon Day.” Blue Dragon Day is highly significant in Korean shamanism, symbolizing change, growth, and new beginnings.
Some netizens have speculated that this day’s large order of eels might have had a folkloric or spiritual significance. Some online commentators have speculated about potential traditional or superstitious motivations behind ordering such a large quantity of eel on this particular day.
Others have suggested that the eel was ordered in advance to celebrate the success of martial law. Given that the atmosphere at the complex reportedly resembled a “funeral home” after the declaration, they argue that the eel could not have been ordered post-declaration.
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