▲ Jeju haenyeo pose for shots on one of Jeju’s oreum. The diving women are the focus of increased international media attention. Photo by Jeon Hye-suk

The Jeju Weekly has reached six years of age. In that time it has continued to project Jeju’s image to the rest of the world.

Across 132 editions and almost 5,000 articles, The Jeju Weekly is playing a unique role in telling Jeju’s stories to the world. We couldn’t do that without our readers, so we thank you for your support.

This year has been one of our most important, particularly with the publication of “Jeju Haenyeo: Stewards of the Sea,” the first book on the diving women in English and published by The Jeju Weekly with Sea Grant Jeju.

Although the bid for haenyeo culture to be listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage failed in the early stages in 2015, this book — in addition to our further coverage — will be crucial in supporting future bids.

As The Jeju Weekly reaches out to the world, people from across the world are reaching out to the paper, seeking to know more about Jeju’s culture. In recent weeks we have been providing the key connections to media all across the world from TV and radio to print.

We recently welcomed journalist Graham Holliday into the office as he traveled the country writing a travelogue of regional Korean food. Expect to see some local favorites such as momguk and gogi guksu there!

The Travel Channel has also been in touch, and again it is food, as one of the globe’s top gastro-travel shows aims to touch down in the fall and get stuck into local delicacies. The Jeju Weekly was the bridge, again.

BBC World Service listeners may be familiar with “The World.” Its “Across Women’s Lives” segment came to Jeju Island in late April to speak to some haenyeo about Jeju’s matriarchal traditions.

COS Magazine (stocked in Collection Of Style stores across Europe) is also interested in Jeju’s haenyeo and The Jeju Weekly set up an interview with one of the island's youngest divers for a series on inspirational women.

At The Jeju Weekly, we don’t think our role has been negligible in this increasing awareness of Jeju across the globe. It gives everyone at the paper immense pride to know that our work, including that of all of our contributors, photographers and supporters, is serving Jeju culture around the world.

We fully and proudly embrace this role as an ambassador for Jeju, and we look forward with relish to the next six years.