Haenyeo means women divers of Jeju (海女). the women divers of Jeju never call themselves haenyeo; rather, it was a term given to them by others that they do not feel comfortable in using to describe themselves. The divers refer to themselves as jamnyeo and only use the term "haenyeo" in the presence of non-divers. Historically, haenyeo was used in a broad sense to refer to any women who gathered seafood, while jamsu and jamnyeo referred to a subclass of haenyeo who actually dived to catch seafood such as abalone and sea urchins. These women dive in the ocean without any underwater diving equipments to gather clams, abalone, or seaweed. All they need is a float to mark their location when they surface, a weeding hoe to dig up abalone and other shellfish that cling to the rocks, and a net to hold their catch. Wearing a lead-weighted vest and goggles, they plunge into the 20-meter depths where they stay underwater holding their breath for two or three minutes.
they are called "the mermaids of Jeju" by foreigners*photo taken from google
Due to its remote location and harsh conditions, the inhabitants of Jeju, had no choice but to search for food in the sea because the rough volcanic earth of the Island was not especially suited for agriculture. Its surrounding waters provided sustenance in the form of abundant abalone, sea urchins, and other "fruits of the sea." These were there for the taking, provided that one could dive 10 to 15 meters to the sea floor where such treasures lay. By taking advantage of what nature has to offer, these women divers have contributed tremendously to the economy and development of Jeju right into modern times.
the utensils they use to prepare the ingredients for cooking
like how they do it in the picture
err..this old straw-suit man is cute
the display shows Haenyo resting at a fireplaceafter finishing their work in a day
Blueyebabe caught an octopus..hahaha~
the display shows haenyo in the past
the traditional outfit and swimsuit for haenyo
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