Diving Into the History of Haenyeo
The Haenyeo (해녀), translating to “women of the sea,” are female free-divers from Jeju Island, South Korea – a centuries-old coastal community that lives off shellfish, seaweed, and other marine life. The Haenyeo keep the community going by diving in groups, sometimes reaching depths of 20+ meters by holding their breath for up to 3 minutes, and harvesting abalones, sea urchins, octopus, sea cucumbers, and kelp to sell or eat.
Jeju’s diving tradition stretches back many centuries and, interestingly, was not always female-dominated. Written references to female divers only started to appear in the 17th century, but by the 18th century, women had largely taken over the trade. Many men were lost at sea or conscripted into the military at the time, so the Haenyeo had to step up and take care of their families when the men could not. Training to be a Haenyeo began in childhood under other experienced divers and led to a skill ranking within communities. Being the primary fishers in this marine-dependent community, their economic independence created a unique matriarchal aspect to Jeju.
When diving, Haenyeo used tools called the homaengi (호맹이), a type of sickle, and tewak (테왁), a type of buoyant net. Today, they still use more modernized versions of these tools along with wetsuits, goggles, and fins. A typical day of diving lasts several hours but changes during seasonal rotations. This does not come without risk, though; freediving without any oxygen source can put Haenyeo at risk of blackout, and being in the waters around Jeju Island can be dangerous due to sudden weather changes and boat traffic. Interestingly, scientific research has found that the Haenyeo have remarkable physical adaptations to cold-water apnea and aging, proving their resilience to their long careers in the sea.
Sadly, Haenyeo numbers have declined dramatically since the mid-20th century, from tens of thousands to only a few thousand today, because of younger women choosing different careers and lifestyles. In recognition of their cultural and ecological role, the “Culture of Jeju Haenyeo” was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a recognition that has helped spur local preservation, tourism interest, and programs to encourage new trainees.
Beyond cultural symbols of strength, Haenyeo are also important protectors of their coastal ecosystems. Many practice sustainable harvesting, remove invasive species, and participate in citizen science and conservation efforts of local marine life. Because of this, preserving their knowledge of both freediving and the ecosystem is integral to maintaining and supporting Jeju’s coastal identity for the future.
———
Sources:
Unesco. (2016). Culture of Jeju Haenyeo https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/culture-of-jeju-haenyeo-women-divers-01068
Unesco. (2023). The Haenyeo: Guardians of Jeju’s Coastal Legacy. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/haenyeo-guardians-jejus-coastal-legacy
Wikipedia. (2025). Haenyeo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haenyeo
PubMed. (2017). Cold adaptation, aging, and Korean women divers haenyeo. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28789677/
National Geographic. (2025). These Korean women divers have evolved traits to survive in frigid water. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/jeju-korea-women-divers-genetic-adaptations?
