“Didn’t you feel nervous whenever you dived into the water?” asked Boo So-Young, a JNU undergraduate student, to her grandmother. “Well, if I had been nervous, I would not have done it in the first place! I worked assiduously every single day,” replied Mrs. Kang SuJa, a Haenyeo with 65 years of experience.
“It may have all started when I was around 12 years old. At first, I started swimming with my childhood friends. During that time, the sea reached the entrance of our village, as there were no structures that blocked it. We could swim as far and as deep as we desired to” recalls Mrs. Kang when questioned about her start as a Female Diver. “When I turned 15, I took on diving and catching seafood actively. However, my work as a Haenyeo really started when I became 19 years old, riding a boat and Geoje Island. The rest is history.”
Startled at her grandmother’s statements, So-Young asked her again what she felt being a Haenyeo. Mrs. Kang playfully answered, “Try holding your breath for three minutes!”. It is this wit and passion that many Haenyeo have lived with and carried on their legacy for centuries.
Originally known as ‘jamnyeo’ in Jeju language, Haenyeo are internationally known as female divers who follow an ecological approach in their work, as they respect nature and do not use artificial equipment. Surprising, since they can dive up to 15 meters below the sea level and hold their breath for more than one minute, their features are not commonly seen anywhere during our times. This has been a profession exclusively done by women since the 17th Century, but the origins of it date as far back as the Goryeo Dynasty. For these and more feats that highlight what lengths is the human mind and strength capable of achieving, Haenyeos have been inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2016.
Unfortunately, as time goes by less and less women take on this profession. Additionally, they are also now suffering from a recent drop in exports, as well as a decrease in domestic consumption. And while different factors might be the cause, it is safe to say that multiple efforts are being done to keep this craft alive. One of them is seen in the ‘Haenyeo Market’ (Instagram: @haenyeomarket), a free market located in Beophwandong, Seogwipo-si. Its main purpose is to pioneer the exchange and distribution of ‘turbo sazae’, a species of sea snail that is the main source of income for Haenyeo. Every Saturday, from May 3rd to June 24th, local creators will participate in the market to sell fresh snails and conches and producing unique handicrafts.