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'The Last of the Sea Women' -

Pictured is director Sue Kim, producer Malala Yousafzai, and two haenyeo that appear in the film, Jang Soon Duk and Lee Hee Soon. 'The Last of the Sea Women' is screened on Apple TV+. But what's the history behind the haenyeo, and how difficult are the challenges they face today?

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A centuries-old tradition -

The women of Jeju Island have been diving for seafood since the late 17th century. But these are no ordinary women. They are haenyeo, South Korea's real-life mermaids.

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South Korean icons -

The haenyeo divers of Jeju are South Korean icons. A community of women who make a living by harvesting a variety of mollusks, seaweed, and other sea life from the ocean, haenyeo—literally "sea women"—represent a Jeju diving tradition that in fact dates back to 434 CE.

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More women take to the water -

Back then, diving was an exclusively male profession. By the 1800s, however, female divers, by now commonly referred to as haenyeo, outnumbered male divers.

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Natural free divers -

What makes haenyeo so unique is that they free dive without the use of oxygen. But what is truly extraordinary about these women of the sea is that they average 70 years of age.

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Age no barrier -

In fact, Jeju's female divers are all of retirement age, with most in their sixties, seventies, and eighties. A few have been diving for more than 65 years.  

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A profession in decline -

In the past, girls started training as as haenyeo when they were 11 years old. But in the modern world, an increasing lack of those wanting to follow in their elder's footsteps is threatening this singular profession.

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What do haenyeo symbolize? -

The life of a Jeju haenyeo symbolizes hardship and strength. Their lifestyle is also marked by exceptional physical ability.

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All in a day's work -

Haenyeo begin their day in the dark, carefully preparing their fishing equipment. This comprises a Styrofoam taewak, a float on which a variety of nets are attached, and a taewak anchor: a stone fixed as a weight in the net to keep it from being swept away by the waves.

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Praying to Jamsugut -

Before a dive, prayers are said to Jamsugut, goddess of the sea, to ask for safety and an abundant catch.

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Entering the water -

Typically, haenyeo head out to dive early, around 6 am. Quite often they have to contend with poor weather.

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Hours in the sea -

With a wetsuit, haenyeo can stay in the water for four to five hours at a time, even during the winter.

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Human mermaids -

With each free dive, these human mermaids can plunge up to 66 feet (20 m) deep, with many able to hold their breath for over three minutes.

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Ocean harvest -

Haenyeo's ocean harvest includes abalone, conch, octopus, sea urchins, and sea squirt.

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Food from the sea -

The sea women also seek out brown alga, top shell, a variety of sargassum, oysters, and sea slugs.

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A rich bounty -

This rich bounty is collected into nets over the course of several dives, anywhere between 100 and 300 times a session.

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Dangers of the deep -

While submerged, haenyeo must contend with dangers of the deep, things like jellyfish and sharks. The divers also have to be mindful of the perils of decompression sickness.

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Landing the catch -

After gathering as much seafood as they can from the ocean floor, haenyeo return to shore to land their catch.

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A sustainable profession -

Haenyeo do not catch and harvest seafood indiscriminately. Working hours, the number of working days, and the minimum sizes of the seafood are all agreed upon beforehand.

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Looking after the marine habitat -

Jeju Island's mermaids are acutely aware of the need to minimize damage to the delicate marine ecosystem and to harvest in a responsible and sustainable manner.

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Preparing the catch -

Once landed, the women spend three or four hours in the afternoon shelling and preparing their catch.

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Selling the seafood -

The super fresh seafood is sold to locals and tourists practically on site, displayed on quayside stalls staffed by the same women who collected it.

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Jeju Island cuisine -

Dishes primarily associated with the cuisine of Jeju Island include several seafood options, for example jeonbokjuk, or abalone porridge, (pictured) and ojingeo hoe, sliced raw squid.

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Jeju Island -

Jeju is South Korea's largest island. It lies in the Korea Strait, south of the Korean Peninsula. It contains a natural World Heritage Site, the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes. Sadly, UNESCO has declared the Jeju language critically endangered due to its decline in usage.

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Cultural heritage -

The culture of Jeju haenyeo itself was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.

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Haenyeo Museum -

Visitors to Jeju Island can learn more about the history of haenyeo at the Haenyeo Museum, a facility locals call "The Daughters of the Sea Museum."

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A landmark destination -

The museum serves as a landmark of Jeju haenyeo culture. It also chronicles Korea under Japanese colonial rule.

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In danger of disappearing -

As a historical cultural practice, haenyeo is in danger of becoming obsolete, with many women having abandoned the sea-diving industry. Fewer younger women are taking up the profession, and with the ocean potentially changing beyond recognition, this ancient method of seafood harvesting is now seen as outdated.

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"The ocean is our home" -

It's for these reasons that Malala Yousafzai produced the documentary 'The Last of the Sea Women' (2024). And a line spoken by one of those appearing in the production ably sums up the feelings of the sea women of Jeju. "The ocean is our home. We have to go to the sea," a haenyeo says in the film. "Even in my next life, I will dive again." 

Sources: (VisitJeju) (BBC) (NBC News) (Oceanographic Magazine) 

See also: Malala Yousafzai and other young activists changing the world

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