Page plan · 15 pages

Written for: General audiences interested in coastal cultures and heritage

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   The haenyeo: Jeju's women of the sea

   • The haenyeo are women divers of Jeju Island, South Korea, who harvest seafood by free diving.
   • They work without air tanks, relying on breath control and long training.
   • Their craft is a living coastal heritage passed down through generations of women.
   • This talk covers their work, community, recognition and an uncertain future.
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   Who dives, how deep, and why the craft is shrinking

   • Divers are mostly women, many of them older, working in village fishing communities.
   • They dive on a single breath, going down to depths that vary with skill and season.
   • Diving gave families income from the sea when farmland alone could not support them.
   • The craft is shrinking as fewer young women take it up and older divers retire.
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   What a dive working day involves

   • A working day follows the tides, weather and the rules of the village fishing cooperative.
   • Divers prepare gear, change in a shelter and head out to their shared grounds.
   • They gather seafood such as abalone, conch, seaweed and sea urchin by hand.
   • Harvest is sorted and sold after the dive, and seasons and catch limits protect stocks.
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   A day in the water

   • Divers wear wetsuits, masks and weighted belts, and carry a float with a collecting net.
   • Each dive is a cycle: breathe deeply, descend, gather, surface and exhale.
   • On surfacing, divers release a whistle-like breath known as sumbisori.
   • They rest between dives and return to shore when conditions or fatigue demand.
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   Ranks by skill and depth

   • Divers are traditionally grouped by skill, which usually tracks the depth they can work.
   • Beginners stay in shallow water close to shore and learn the grounds.
   • More experienced divers handle deeper water and richer harvests.
   • Senior divers lead the group, share knowledge and guide decisions on safety.
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   The stone shelter on the shore

   • The stone shelter on the shore is a place to warm up and change before and after diving.
   • It is also where divers rest, talk and share news.
   • Its walls shelter the group from wind and spray.
   • Spaces like this show that diving is a communal practice, not a solitary job.
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   Fields under the sea

   • The seabed grounds are treated like fields, worked and cared for by each village.
   • Villages manage who harvests, where and when, to keep the sea productive.
   • Seasonal closures and size limits help stocks recover.
   • This shared stewardship is part of the heritage, alongside the diving itself.
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   How the practice gained recognition

   • The haenyeo moved from local livelihood to a subject of wider cultural interest.
   • Researchers, museums and Jeju authorities documented their lives and skills.
   • UNESCO inscribed the culture of Jeju haenyeo on its intangible heritage list in 2016.
   • Recognition brought attention and support but not a cure for the falling numbers.
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   Why it was recognised

   • It was recognised for the knowledge of the sea, breath control and the ecological know-how of the divers.
   • Their work reflects sustainable harvesting practices guided by community rules.
   • Women's leadership in the community was also valued.
   • Shared rituals and songs mark the culture as a living tradition.
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    From 3,985 active divers in 2017 to 2,839 in 2023

    • Registered active haenyeo on Jeju fell from 3,985 in 2017 to 2,839 in 2023.
    • The count was 3,820 in 2019 and 3,437 in 2021.
    • It dropped to 3,226 in 2022.
    • The decline continues every year shown, a loss of 1,146 divers over the period.

    Line chart: Registered active haenyeo on Jeju (divers). Source: Fewer Jeju Haenyeo and more safety accidents due to aging population (Jeju Province figures) · checked 2026-10-10

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    Nearly two in three divers are 70 or older

    • At the end of 2025, 1,077 divers were aged 70 to 79 and 423 were 80 or older.
    • Together those two groups are 1,500 of 2,371 active divers, about 63 percent.
    • Only 105 divers were under 50, while 766 were aged 50 to 69.
    • With so few young divers, the pipeline of future haenyeo is thin.

    Pie chart: Active haenyeo by age, end of 2025 (divers). Source: Jeju Haenyeo Retirement Ceremony Held as 63% of Active Divers Are 70 or Older (Jeju Haenyeo Association figures) · checked 2026-10-10

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    Newcomers and those who retire

    • Some newcomers join, often drawn by heritage, the sea or a career in the community.
    • Many older divers retire due to age, health or safety concerns.
    • Retirement ceremonies honor those leaving after decades of work.
    • New entrants are far fewer than those leaving, which is why numbers fall.
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    How the craft is passed on

    • Skills have traditionally passed from mothers and neighbors to girls in the village.
    • Today training programs and schools teach diving, safety and the grounds.
    • Apprentices learn from senior divers, who share what they know of the sea.
    • Passing on the craft also means passing on its rules, songs and shared values.
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    What the haenyeo teach about living heritage

    • Living heritage depends on people who practice it, not only on records.
    • The haenyeo show how a community can manage natural resources over generations.
    • Their story highlights women's work and leadership in coastal life.
    • Supporting the practice means safety, fair income and respect for their knowledge.
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    Where to read and watch more about the haenyeo

    • Look for Jeju museums and heritage centers that document the haenyeo.
    • UNESCO's intangible heritage pages describe the inscription and its reasons.
    • Documentaries and news reporting follow the divers and their changing numbers.
    • When visiting Jeju, respect working divers and their grounds.