A Haenyeo is a Korean female diver, who lives off harvesting various molluscs, seaweed, and other creatures from the ocean. On Jeju Island, there is a community of women, many of them in their eighties, who dive 10 meters under the sea without the use of oxygen masks to gather shellfish, such as abalone or sea urchins.
Based on their knowledge of the ocean and marine life, female divers harvest for up to seven hours a day, 90 days a year. They hold their breath for just one minute on each dive and make a distinct sound each time they surface.
A haenyeo (also spelt haenyo) is representative of the semi-matriarchal family structure of Jeju. A haenyeo also displays a strong sense of independence, iron will, and determination. Since the 4th century AD, diving has been a tradition in Jeju. It was a male-dominated profession with women joining their husbands while diving.
The first mention of female divers in literature comes from a 17th-century monograph about Jeju geography, referring to them as jamnyeo (literally, ‘diving women’). This shift may be explained by a variety of factors. For instance, many men died at sea during wartime or during deep-sea fishing accidents. An 18th-century document describes a tax on dried abalone being imposed on ordinary people. This forced many women to dive in cold water.
Divers are classified into three groups based on their experience: haguns, jungguns, and sangguns, with the sanggun offering guidance to the other groups. A special prayer is offered before diving to the goddess of the sea, Jamsugut, to ask for safety and abundant catch.
Families, schools, and fishing cooperatives, together with the area's fishing rights, Haenyeo associations, the Haenyeo Museum, and the Haenyeo School transfer knowledge to younger generations. A symbol of the island's character and spirit, Haenyeo has also contributed to advancing women in the community and promoting environmental sustainability with its use of eco-friendly methods and participation in fisheries management.
Currently, haenyeo is regarded as a treasure of Jeju. The Korean government honors their contributions to the island's culture by subsidizing their gear and granting them exclusive sales rights to fresh seafood.