JEJU HAENYEO

Jeju-do is the largest island situated in the southernmost region of Korea!Jeju Island, which has nature beautiful enough to be on UNESCO's World Natural Heritage List, is visited by many tourists.At the Jeju sea, there is scenery which attracts attention and is every bit as beautiful as scenic views of other coastal areas.People dive there without equipment and catch sea products!The very figures of Haenyeo(meaning,womendivers)!Let's meet Jeju Haenyeo, a unique scene in the world, and listen to their stories.

Haenyeo are professional women divers who dive into the sea without any mechanical equipment in order to catch sea products. The sea which is Haenyeo's workplace as well as common fishing ground has been called a 'sea farm'.Because farmland is scare in Jeju due to its volcanic nature, the Jeju people have cultivated the sea like farmland.Jeju Haenyeo make their living by harvesting abalones, conches, sea cucumber, and hijiki from the ocean. They are called Jamsu, Jamnyeo and Jamsu in Jeju. Their lives are an integral part of the history of Jeju. The job they do in the sea is called “Muljil”.When did haenyeo diving begin in Jeju?Given that records of the 6th century AD indicate pearls were sent to the central government as an offering to the king, it is estimated that the haenyeo history is long.We can find records about haenyeo in the literature of Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Diving seems to have begun before the period of the Three States (57 BC - 668 AD), judging from the fact that Jeju had a record of contributing pearls to the King. It is believed that fishermen harvested abalones and presented them during Joseon dynasty.Jeju topography written by Lee Gun in 1629 recorded that Haenyeo harvested abalones. The records of Haenyeo are recorded on bibliographic data such as the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Jiyoungrok written by Lee Ik Tae, and Jonjaejeonseo by We Baek Gue.

Muljil skill is acquired by lengthy training and experience. Haenyeo near the ocean learned how to swim and dive in the shallow sea at the age of 8 and became baby Haenyeo at age 15.This skill, considered 'superhuman', is gained from individuals' working experience for long periods of time beneath the sea.They can do the work only if they can control diving time themselves by sensing water pressure and amount of oxygen and estimating the distance to the surface of the water.

Sumbisori is the whistling sound Haenyeo make when they surface. It sounds like a 'Hoowi Hoowi' sound when they inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide created when submerged for 1 ~ 2 minutes. Sumbisori provides fresh air to Haenyeo and enables them to work extended periods of time with only short rest periods needed.Physical conditions such as lung capacity, ability to withstand pressure, and capacity to adjust to cold water are needed. Cool nerves are also necessary when swimming near and encountering big fish. Jeju Haenyeo have extended their skill and wisdom, by learning the effective use of physical strength and knowledge of the ocean from the seniors at the Bulteok.

Knowledge of nature encompasses knowledge of the oceans and tides, wind, harvested things and experience. Haenyeo are able to recognize sea geography, changing tidal currents, and habitats of marine life. They can estimate growing process of seasonal marine life and harvest them accordingly. For example, the best time to harvest agar-agar is different year by year. They don't harvest abalone and conches during spawning season. The Haenyeo's vast experience and accumulated knowledge of the marine ecosystem have been handed down from generation to generation.

Diving has a strong community spirit. Haenyeo should work in accordance with the regulations and laws, and not dive alone. By doing work together, they can avoid dangerous situations. Solo Haenyeo can't exist.Sea farm, which is the haenyeo workplace, is operated by an Eochongye, Haenyeo cooperative. In Jeju Island, there are about 100 Eochongye, one belonging to each coastal village. They have their own regulations about the boundary of fishing ground, qualifications for catching sea products, and catching methods and periods, which are kept strictly. This is a pledge to preserve and co-exist with the ocean eco-system. This haenyeo community shows a form of 'town meeting'. When they have some problems, they get together and make decisions through free discussion until every member understands and accepts. Haenyeo are divided into three levels: Sang-gun, Jung-gun, and Ha-gun, according to their experience and skills. Haenyeo with special with wisdom and virture are called 'Dae-Sanggun', who lead the community for their safety and harmony.

The act of catching conches, abalones, sea urchins and octopus is called 'heotmurae'. When they are carrying out 'heotmurae' it does not mean they can catch the sea produce almost immediately. It is most often the case where they can't catch anything. It also refers to any action that is not group based such as the collection of tot or cheoncho. The work that they carry out in the water is dangerous in the sense that they could miscalculate the time that they can hold their breath in the water and die. As such, they have to learn how to calculate accurately almost to the second and become a competent haenyeo. The heotmurae work differs greatly in terms of amount of the collected sea produce depending on the haenyeo's competence and ability even if they worked for the same period of time and in the same place.

Jeju haenyeo don't think of nature as just objects for gathering. They have passed on the ways of co-existing to generations by preserving the natural environment. Therefore, they merit being called advocates of ecology.They are also experts of the ocean as they have accumulated knowledge of the sea and diving skills by adjusting to the marine environment and mastering geographical features of the sea.In addition, they are models of gender equality as they have played an independent role in the society and domestic economy along with men.