In the turquoise waters off South Korea's Jeju Island, a remarkable group of women known as the Haenyeo—or "sea women"—continue a centuries-old tradition of free-diving to harvest seafood by hand. These fearless divers, often in their 60s and 70s, plunge up to 10 metres deep without oxygen tanks, relying solely on their breath-holding skills and decades of experience.
The Last of Their Kind
Once numbering in the tens of thousands, today only about 4,000 Haenyeo remain, most of them elderly. This dramatic decline has turned their practice into a living cultural heritage, recognised by UNESCO in 2016. The younger generation shows little interest in continuing this gruelling work, preferring modern careers over the dangerous dives in often freezing waters.
A Day in the Life of a Haenyeo
Before sunrise, these remarkable women:
- Check weather conditions and tidal patterns
- Perform breathing exercises to prepare for dives
- Gather traditional tools like nets and hooks
Their harvest includes abalone, conch, octopus and various seaweeds—delicacies prized in Korean cuisine. The women work in teams, communicating through distinctive whistling sounds that carry over the waves.
Preserving a Dying Tradition
Local authorities have established training programmes and museums to keep the Haenyeo tradition alive. Some younger women are now learning the craft, drawn by:
- Cultural pride
- Growing eco-tourism interest
- Government subsidies
Yet the future remains uncertain for these real-life mermaids, whose incredible endurance and connection to the sea represent a vanishing way of life.
