▲ JDC junior journalists have visited Hado village to experience the seashore life. Photo by Kim Jinmi

[This article is written by a JDC Junior Journalist. The JDC Junior Journalist program is an educational project sponsored by Jeju Free International City Development Corporation (JDC). JDC Junior Journalist articles are only briefly edited by mentors before publishing.]

A haenyeo is a female diver who goes to the sea to collect sea cucumbers, ear shells, sea mustards, and so on.

On June 15, JDC junior ournalists interviewed two female drivers. Ham Suk-hee, 67, and Park Mi-jeong, 53, live in Hado-ri.

Ham became a Haenyeo when she was 19 years old, and Park became Haenyeo when she was years old. Ham said “This job was most difficult in earlier days before we had wetsuits, we only wore muljeoksam (cloth diving clothes,) so it was extremely cold” and she also said “ There are no sharks in Jeju’s waters, but when dolphins pass by I was scared that their flippers might hit me, so after they left, I went to into sea again.”

Additionaly When they were young, they didn’t have diving suits, so they were stung by jellyfish. As for their sickness as they become Haenyeo, she said, ”I feel light-headed and suffer from back pain. I do physical therapy now.” The Haenyeo have a license, and if they have a license, they receive examination by hospitalization for free.

JDC junior journalists also interviewed Park, but her answer is almost same as Ham. She becomes Haenyeo in her early ages. And both of them became Haenyeo to earn money, becouse of their parents’ recommend and so on

To be a Haenyeo, there is some difficulties, especially physical parts. and Certainly, Haenyeo is a hardworking job. In spite of this, people who has this job is immense. As words that Park said, government has to support about Haenyeo. Hanyeo is a treasure of Jeju