Women of the Sea: The Haenyeo of Jeju
In the deep blue seas of Jeju Island, women have dived for generations without oxygen tanks to harvest seafood from the ocean floor. These women, known as haenyeo, are not just workers—they embody a unique and resilient traditional culture where humans coexist with nature in strong communal bonds.
Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines Sparks Global Curiosity
Netflix’s original Korean drama When Life Gives You Tangerines brings global attention to haenyeo culture by setting its powerful storyline against the backdrop of Jeju Island. The drama highlights the strength of Jeju women and the warmth of their communities, sparking international interest in this fading tradition.
Haenyeo on Screen: More Than a Setting
Set across decades from the 1950s to the 2000s, When Life Gives You Tangerines features haenyeo not as mere scenery but as key elements of character identity and regional spirit. Other K-dramas like Our Blues and Welcome to Samdalri also portray haenyeo villages, showcasing the hardship, dignity, and warmth of these women’s lives.
In Korean dramas, haenyeo symbolize regional identity and tradition, reflecting values of family, nature, and resilience.
Wisdom and Strength Born from the Sea
Haenyeo dive up to 10 meters deep relying solely on their breath, collecting abalone, sea urchins, conch, and seaweed. Each dive lasts 1–2 minutes and demands both physical endurance and mental strength. Yet, they’ve long practiced sustainable harvesting—avoiding collection during spawning seasons and adjusting methods to respect the ocean.
This harmony between nature and survival elevates haenyeo culture beyond labor—it becomes a philosophy of life.
Sumbisori: The Sound of Life
When haenyeo emerge from the water, they release a strong exhale called sumbisori. This sound is more than breath—it’s a way to confirm each other’s safety and maintain communal connection.
Veteran haenyeo can recognize colleagues’ condition through sumbisori alone. This unique sound played a key role in getting haenyeo culture listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016.
The dolphin-like sound you hear when Gwang-rye first appears in Episode 1 of Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines is actually the “sumbisori” — the unique breathing sound made by haenyeo after they surface from a dive.
Tradition Passed Down Through Community
Haenyeo culture thrives on community spirit. Women gather at bulteok, a communal space, to share knowledge before and after diving. Skills are passed from senior to junior divers, who are categorized as sanggun, junggun, and hagun depending on their level.
This structure ensures not only the transmission of skills but also the safety and sustainability of the haenyeo way of life.
A powerful example of this community spirit appears in Episode 1 of Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines. In one scene, haenyeo women are shown sharing the seafood they’ve caught with a fellow diver who can no longer work. When Gwang-rye expresses reluctance to give it away, another haenyeo firmly replies, “We live together and we die together.”
This scene powerfully captures the essence of their communal solidarity. When a haenyeo becomes too old or too ill to dive, the others collect portions of their daily catch to support her—an unspoken rule of care and survival that defines the heart of the haenyeo community.
A Culture at Risk, But Not Forgotten
From over 30,000 haenyeo in the 1960s, fewer than 4,000 remain today—mostly over 60. Climate change, marine pollution, and declining seafood threaten their way of life.
To protect it, Jeju and the Korean government have launched haenyeo schools, cultural events, and international campaigns to keep this living tradition alive.
Where to Experience Haenyeo Culture in Korea
Jeju Island
Jeju Haenyeo Museum
Learn the history, tools, and stories of haenyeo life.
Address: Jeju-si, Gujwa-eup, Haenyeo Museum-gil 26
Seongsan Ilchulbong Haenyeo Performance
Watch real haenyeo dive and perform.
Address: Seogwipo-si, Seongsan-eup, Seongsan-ri
Haenyeo Experience Programs
- Sewu Beach (Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si)
- Hado Haenyeo Experience Center (Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si)
- Ojo Haenyeo School (Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si)
- Hamo Beach (Daejeong-eup, Seogwipo-si)
Visitors can try basic diving and shellfish harvesting.
Gyeongsangbuk-do, Pohang
Guryongpo Haenyeo Village
Walk the haenyeo trail and experience daily life.
Address: Guryongpo-eup, Nam-gu, Pohang-si
Homigot Haenyeo Experience Site
Watch diving, hear haenyeo stories.
Address: Daebo-ri, Homigot-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang-si
Busan
Yeongdo Jungni Haenyeo Village
Urban haenyeo village with local seafood restaurants.
Address: Jungni area, Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu
Yeongdo Haenyeo Culture Exhibition Hall
Displays on Busan’s haenyeo near Taejongdae.
Address: 195 Haeyang-ro, Yeongdo-gu
