Recently, the Netflix drama When Life Gives You Tangerines gained significant popularity both domestically and internationally. From the beginning, the drama drew attention with the appearance of haenyeo—female divers from Jeju Island. One cannot talk about life in Jeju without mentioning haenyeo. The drama portrays the hardships and sorrows of these women. In addition, the JTBC special documentary Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure was recently broadcast. It is the first co-produced content between JTBC and BBC Studios. Deep Dive Korea delicately captures the resilient spirit and way of life of Jeju haenyeo, aiming to introduce their unique culture. Viewers were deeply moved by actress Song Ji-hyo as she gained a better understanding of the haenyeo’s tough lives, relying solely on a tewak while diving into the open sea to earn a living. The Origin of the Term “Haenyeo” Haenyeo (海女) refers to women who dive into shallow seas to collect seafood. In the southern coast of Korea, they are called murekkun, while in Jeju they have traditionally been called jamnyeo or jamsu (潛女·潛嫂). The term “haenyeo” became common during the Japanese colonial era and has been widely used since the 1980s, although it’s still not commonly used in Jeju itself. In the 1960s, in Yeongdo, Busan, they were also referred to as tongjaengi, a term likely derived from the use of wooden barrels (tong) instead of tewak. This method of using barrels can also be seen among Japan’s ama (海女, 海士), and is believed to be influenced by Japanese fishing villages established in Yeongdo during the colonial period. Female Divers Rare in the World Although diving to harvest seafood is a practice seen around the world, only in Korea and Japan do people dive without specialized equipment purely for survival. Similar practices exist in parts of Southeast Asia and Russia, but only sporadically. Jeju Island, in particular, is globally recognized for having the highest concentration of female divers. While haenyeo can be found across the Korean peninsula and its many islands, the vast majority are concentrated in Jeju. In the past, Jeju haenyeo did not limit their work to their home villages. They often traveled to other regions or even overseas for months at a time in a lifestyle known as chulga (출가). After the opening of ports in 1876, the influx of Japanese fishermen led to the devastation of Jeju’s fishing grounds, threatening the haenyeo’s livelihood. As a result, they migrated northward, reaching as far as Cheongjin via North Gyeongsang and Gangwon Provinces. They also spread to the southern and western coasts, as well as islands like Ulleungdo and Heuksando. Overseas, they went to various parts of Japan, Vladivostok, Dalian in the Liaodong Peninsula, and Qingdao in Shandong Province. They typically left in the spring and returned in the fall. These migrations were usually seasonal labor activities, and the tradition of diving in these regions was passed on by the Jeju haenyeo. Historical Records of Haenyeo Haenyeo emerged naturally as a profession and are mentioned in various historical texts. The Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) mentions haenyeo in the Goguryeo section. In 1105, during the reign of King Sukjong of Goryeo, there is a record banning haenyeo from working naked. During the Joseon Dynasty under King Injo, the governor of Jeju banned men and women from working together in the sea. This shows that haenam (male divers) existed alongside haenyeo at that time. Male divers were referred to as pojakin or pojakgan. Since the Goryeo Dynasty, Jeju was required to offer abalone and seaweed as tribute to the royal court. While haenyeo usually collected the seaweed, male divers were responsible for harvesting abalone. As the abalone tribute quotas increased, many attempted to escape to the mainland. To prevent this, a “ban on leaving the island” (chullyukgeumjiryeong) was issued and remained in place for 200 years starting in 1629. During this period, Jeju women were not even allowed to marry off the island. Boat construction was also prohibited on Jeju to ensure the tributes continued. The ban was lifted around 1850, after which Jeju haenyeo began seasonal migrations to places like Busan and Ulsan to earn a living. Tools of the Haenyeo Haenyeo collect abalone, sea cucumbers, octopuses, sea squirts, seaweed, tot, and agar, and occasionally catch fish using spears. Essential tools include the tewak (a buoyant float held to the chest for support), and the mangsiri (a mesh bag attached beneath the tewak for collecting catch). When diving, the tewak and mangsiri float on the water. For diving, they carry tools like the bitchang (a long iron rod for prying abalone), jeonggehom-i (a sickle for cutting seaweed), galgori (an iron rake for shellfish), and sosal (a spear for catching fish). Haenyeo wear a wetsuit called mulot and goggles known as nun. Originally, these wetsuits were made of cotton, later replaced with rubber. The goggles evolved from small binocular types called joksenun to larger ones called wangnun in the 1950s. The Culture of Haenyeo Becoming a haenyeo is not a matter of special birth, but of training and repetition. In the past, girls in coastal villages of Jeju learned diving in shallow areas called aegibadang (baby sea). They observed experienced haenyeo, listened to their stories, and learned through repeated practice. Typically, if a mother was a haenyeo, so was her daughter; if a mother-in-law was a haenyeo, so was the daughter-in-law. Girls in Jeju began learning to swim and practice underwater movements at around 7–8 years old. By 12–13, they practiced diving into deeper waters. At 15–16, they began actual diving work, and by 17–18, they were considered full-fledged haenyeo. Haenyeo are most active around age 40, and some continue diving into their 60s and even 70s. Based on skill, Jeju haenyeo are divided into three classes: sanggunn (upper), junggun (middle), and hagun (lower). Sanggunn haenyeo are highly skilled and knowledgeable about sea life and terrain, and often lead the community by mentoring others. From them, younger haenyeo learn not only diving skills but also