From Shoreline Beauty to Shoreline Duty
When most people picture Hyeopjae Beach in Jeju, they imagine turquoise waters stretching to the horizon and soft white sand glistening in the sun. That’s what we expected too when we arrived on a bright summer morning. And while the scenery was breathtaking, stepping closer revealed a more complicated truth. Scattered among seashells and smooth pebbles were traces of human activity — bottle caps, tangled fishing lines, faded snack wrappers, and even a single worn-out sandal.
At that moment, our role changed. We weren’t just visitors here to admire the view; we were caretakers, ready to give something back to the beach that had given us so much.
The Hidden Burden Beneath the Sand
With gloves on and reusable trash bags in hand, we spread out across the coastline. At first, we focused on the obvious — plastic bottles wedged between rocks, soda cans buried in the sand, and cigarette butts hiding beneath driftwood. But the real challenge lay in the micro-debris: tiny shards of glass glinting like false treasures and small plastic fragments weathered smooth by the sea.
Each piece was insignificant on its own, but together, they painted a picture of the environmental burden our oceans silently carry. Removing them felt like uncovering wounds the beach had been hiding beneath its beauty.
Working as One — On Land and Underwater
The most powerful part of the day wasn’t just the act of cleaning — it was doing it together. We called out to each other when someone found a heavy or unusual item, shared tools when needed, and celebrated each bag filled. One of us pulled a stubborn fishing net tangled in seaweed from the water’s edge, while another carefully removed a cluster of aluminum cans wedged deep into rocks.
Some of our team members even went into the water with scuba gear to collect submerged trash. Beneath the surface, we discovered fishing lines wrapped around coral and pieces of plastic drifting with the current. Removing them wasn’t easy — the gear was heavy, the water cold, and visibility limited — but the effort was worth it. Each piece we retrieved was one less threat to marine life.
There were quiet moments, too. Times when we paused to gaze out at the sea and remind ourselves why we were there. Every piece of trash removed felt like a small promise to the ocean — a promise to protect and preserve.
A Beach Renewed
By the time the sun began to sink lower in the sky, our bags were heavy, our shoes sandy, and our arms tired — but our hearts were full. The beach looked calmer and cleaner, almost as if it had taken a deep breath of relief. We knew that more visitors would come tomorrow and that new trash might follow, but for that day, Hyeopjae Beach was closer to the pristine paradise it deserved to be.
We left with more than just a cleaner shoreline. We left with a shared sense of purpose and pride, knowing that what we did mattered — not just to the beach, but to the countless creatures and people who will enjoy it in the future. Cleaning wasn’t just about removing trash; it was about showing gratitude and respect for the natural beauty that sustains us all.
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