HISTORY OF THE HAENYEO WOMEN OF JEJU ISLAND
The haenyeo are female divers who harvest seafood whilst controlling their breathing without any apparatus
THE LARGEST offshore island in Korea, Jeju Island lies in the Korea Strait just below the Korean Peninsula and is the only self-governing province in South Korea, being run by mostly local inhabitants instead of politicians.
Best known for its beautiful volcanic landmarks, white sandy beaches, and green tea plantations, Jeju pulls in thousands of tourists – local and international – to its shores every year. Though the beauty of the island is evident to anyone who visits, it is the people of the island that are the most impressive, and in particular, the haenyeo.
The haenyeo are female divers who harvest seafood whilst controlling their breathing without any apparatus. For hundreds of years, the women on this island have made their living from harvesting seafood by hand from the ocean floor, realising that the sea should be tended and preserved, instead of being mass harvested. They have accumulated their harvesting skills and marine knowledge by adapting to the ocean environment, and the knowledge and wisdom they have gained are passed down to future generations. Starting at an early age, many still work well into their 80s. Considered living legends of Jeju Island, the haenyeo were invited to the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX 2016), where they showcased their breathholding skills in the ADEX dive tank. Later that year, the “Culture of Jeju Haenyeo” was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.