For nearly four centuries, groups of women on the South Korean island of Jeju have made a living harvesting shellfish from the ocean. Known as haenyeo, meaning “women of the sea” in Korean, these women make up a dwindling group of divers, mostly older women, who risk their lives every day to support their children and families.
Haenyeo and restaurateur Young Nam Kim has been diving for more than 40 years. The grueling work has taken its toll on her body over time, resulting in leg cramps in the morning and daily medication. “On land, it’s okay, but in the water, if you get a cramp, you’re in trouble,” Kim says. After massaging out the cramps and taking her medication, Kim puts on a thick rubber suit to protect her body from the cold waters.
Kim is a seasoned veteran of the practice and knows all the tricks, such as putting gum in her ears to keep water out or tying a net around her body to catch more sea snails. The result of these tips and tricks: more abalone, sea snails and sea urchins caught and ready to sell. However, getting to this level of expertise was not easy for Kim. “I found it very, very difficult to learn how to be a haenyeo,” she explains. “It took me 10 years to learn.”
The most important aspect of the job is safety. Haenyeo practice a buddy system when they dive into the water, never diving alone. While in the middle of the sea, they whistle to each other to let their diving partner know they are alive and well. When they don’t hear the whistle, they know someone is in trouble. “It’s not worth trading life for the harvest,” Kim says. “Accept what the Dragon Queen Mother gives you. If you fail today, you can try again tomorrow.”
Watch the newest episode of The sellers to follow Young Nam Kim on an immersion and learn more about the four-hundred-year legacy that the Haenyeo continue today.
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