Haenyeo Divers

For centuries, these women have supported their families by diving into the freezing ocean to harvest seafood without the use of breathing equipment. In 2016, the culture of Jeju Haenyeo was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognized not just as a fishing method, but as a unique social structure that challenges the traditional gender norms of East Asia.

The diving technique itself is physically demanding and perilous. Haenyeo dive to depths of up to 10 meters, typically holding their breath for up to two minutes. They do this repeatedly for hours at a time, often in harsh wintry conditions. When they surface, they emit a distinctive, piercing whistle known as sumbisori. This sound is not just a signal of their location; it is a calculated technique to rapidly expel carbon dioxide and inhale fresh oxygen before the next dive. The gear is simple but essential: a wetsuit (which replaced traditional cotton outfits in the 1970s), a diving mask, heavy lead weights to accelerate their dives, and a hook-like tool for prying abalone, conch, or sea urchin from the rocks. They use a round orange float called a tewak to rest on the surface and store their catch in an attached net.

Historically, this tradition created a unique semi-matriarchal social structure on the island. Because the porous, rocky volcanic soil of Jeju made rice farming difficult, the harvest from the sea became the primary source of income for many coastal villages. Consequently, women became the primary breadwinners, while men often took on the role of caring for the home and children — a stark reversal of the strict Confucian norms that dominated the Korean mainland. This economic power gave Jeju women a degree of independence and authority within the family and community that was virtually unknown elsewhere in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty.

The Haenyeo community is organized into a strict hierarchy based on diving skill rather than age. The most skilled divers, known as sanggun, lead the groups, deciding where to dive to ensure the safety of the less experienced members. This communal aspect is central to their survival; they dive together, sell their harvest through a fishing cooperative, and traditionally donate a portion of the profits to support the community.

Today, however, the Haenyeo are a fading way of life. The work is grueling and carries the risk of decompression sickness and drowning, leading younger generations to opt for safer, more comfortable employment in tourism or office work. As a result, the vast majority of active divers today are over the age of 60, with many working well into their 80s. While their numbers are dwindling, the Haenyeo remain a powerful testament to human endurance, representing a harmonious, if harsh, coexistence with the ocean.