[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.]

Jeju Haenyeo are rare and precious symbols of Jeju women. When the Haenyeo come out of the water to breath, there is a sound when they breath. This high-pitched whistling sound is called ‘’sumbi sound’ .
They dove all over the ocean and took responsibility of their living.

Wanda, who experienced the Hanyeo school said, “ Before I came to korea, I grew up in a small fishing village. When I began researching Jeju, first thing I read about was the Hanyeo. I was drawn automatically to that culture, and I wanted to know about it more. Once I arrived in Jeju my director asked me first day what I wanted to see first, and I said that I want to see the Hanyeo first, so he drove me. Later, I heard about The Hanyeo school and said, “ I have to go!” I learned things about the Hanyeo, such as their history. While I was learning about hanyeo, it was very difficult to get to the bottom of the water..”

The chairman of Jeju Haenyeo Culture Heritage Preservation, Lee han young said “ Our Hanyeo is disappearing now so we are trying to inform Hanyeo to people. I came from seoul, but I like oceans and swimming, also I like Jeju too. I was found people who could hold their breath underwater, and they were the haenyeo. I thought Hanyeo has some different body from us, but that’s not the case. The Hanyeo are the people who made Jeju.”

The Hanyeo are the mothers of Jeju. Now, the average of Hanyeo age is 69years old. If they all retired later, there will be no more people to take up the proffession. People have to get more interest to Hanyeo.