By Honorary Reporter Kate Kalinova from Australia

This is a group photo of participants on the haenyeo tour at Hado haenyeo statue on Jeju Island (Fam tour DB of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Culture of Jeju Haenyeo Experience)

A group of Korea.net Honorary Reporters, K-Influencers and foreign correspondents from July 21-23 toured Jeju Island to explore the culture and history of the island's famed haenyeo (female divers), visiting Jeju Haenyeo Museum and going diving in Hado Fishing Village.

Literally meaning "sea women," haenyeo gained designation in 2016 as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Since learning about the divers after reading Lisa See's historical novel "The Island of Sea Women," I've been fascinated by them and this tour was the perfect opportunity to experience their culture and history.

Located in the town of Gujwa-eup, the museum has three exhibitions. The first, "The Life of Jeju Haenyeo," displays their everyday routine with the typical house they lived in and unique clothing like garot, or traditional persimmon-dyed garment. Also featured were aspects of folk religions like Yeongdeung Rites for the goddess of the wind and ocean, which the divers relied on given the dangers of working in the sea.

The Jeju Haenyeo Museum displays diving suits and tools of the famous divers on Jeju Island. (Kate Kalinova)

The second exhibition, "The Workplace of Haenyeo," delves into the divers' tools and underwater work practices. They wear wet suits and diving goggles, use the floatation device tewak in their arms and tools like a bitchang, a hook-shaped metal tool, to pick up seafood like abalone attached to the rock.

The final exhibition, "The Life History of Haenyeo," features the traditional values of haenyeo and their role in modern Jeju society through visual aids.

Then it was on to Hado Fishing Village for the haenyeo diving experience. Before hitting the water, we spoke to our instructor, a seasoned diver with over 50 years of experience who shared her life story in the field. She mentioned things like her daily earnings, dangers of the sea and importance of awareness of surroundings when diving.

This veteran haenyeo speaks on her profession and tells tour participants how to dive and catch seafood. (Kate Kalinova)

After she showed participants how to dive and collect seafood, they entered the waters off the rocky coast dressed in rubber diving suits and carrying tewak just like they saw at the museum. Everyone enjoyed the safe and comfortable experience.

Diving into the sea felt like entering the world of haenyeo, where we could leave all worries on shore and simply enjoy the undersea scenery with sea creatures right in front of our eyes.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.