By Honorary Reporter, Kelvin Sharon Tobore.

I was honoured to be invited to the opening ceremony of the Jeju Haenyeo exhibition as an honorary reporter. There, I also met two other honorary reporters, the Korean twins Winner and Winnie. They are really nice and intelligent young ladies. The experience of ceremony was really educative and as a Korean honorary reporter, its my duty to share such experience and educative individuals, who are also interested in Korean culture.

The ceremony officially began with a welcoming speech from the Director of the KCCN, Mr Kim Chang-Ki. He gave a little recap on the Haenyeo cultural and how important it is to the people of Jeju and hopes we also have a good experience learning about Haenyeo. I would like to thank the Director and staff of KCCN for the opportunity to learn about this new cultural, I sincerely had never heard of.

Our exhibition guide was Miss Jennifer. Her explanations were really clear and easy to understand and not too complicated. She began by explaining to what exactly Haenyeo is.

What is Haenyeo (핸야)?

Haenyeo are female individuals whose jobs are to harvest seafood, while controlling breathing without any apparatus ( that is, any scientific instruments for under sea deep diving). Their aim to preserve the Sea and treat it tenderly than it being hugely harvested without thinking to protect it also. This belief and culture is always down from generations to generations. They being their diving from ages 7–8 and become very skilful at age 18 and by age 35 they are very professional. The job they do under the sea is called “MULJIL” (물질). They make their living by harvesting abalones, conchoes, sea cucumber from the ocean.  They accumulate harvesting skills and marine knowledge by adopting to the ocean environment. This practice improved the equality of sexes in the community and also extended Jeju economy to Japan, China, and even across to Russia.

Miss Jennifer went ahead to explain to us how the Haenyeos achieve the Muljil(물질) skill not only by diving perfectly but also how they sustain their breath even after diving up the ground level of the Sea. This practice is called SUMBISORI (숨비소리). This is by making whistling sounds when they to the surface. It sounds hoowi hoowi as inhale and exhale.

Traditional outfits of the Haenyeo

They are called (MULOT- 물럿) composing of three(3) pieces such as (MULSOJUNGI)- Pants/Trousers, (MULJEOKSAM -물적삼)- Jacket and (MULSUGUN-물수군)- Tying hair/Scarf.The outfits especially the mulsojungi was made for minimizing water resistance for work under sea.Myself, Winnie, and Winner were opportune to model the Haenyeo traditional outfits.You can we were Haenyeos for a day.Lots of of pictures were taken. I mean lots! hahaha. It was really fun. I loved it and i am sure they ( Reporter Winnie and Winner)loved it too.

Diving equipments of the Haenyeo include swimming googles, Tewak-테왁 Mangsari-망사리, Bitchang-빗창, and Kakuri-카구리. Although modern Haenyeos still use this equipments but the qualities are improved.

We were given costume made Tewak as souvenirs in our gift-bags and they came with little cute shells and also cute pen with haenyeos on them. hahaha The Korean twins were so cute wanting the same colours. I just had to exchange it for them with mine. hahahahah lol.

And of course. BULTEOK-불떡

After a hard day’s work, rest is essential. Bultoek is where the Haenyeos exchange clothes, prepare for diving or rest after work. It’s usually a warm place and has a place surrounded with stones in circles to create bon-fires. Here, the Haenyeos could have little chitchats and even have food together, shares ideas and also decision making. Each village has a good number of at least 3–4 Bultoeks depending on size of village and its residents. Although, nowadays, Bultoeks are more with hot and cold water to facilities comfort in a more modern way since 1995.

CHULHYANG HAENYEO- 철향해녀

Haenyeos who left Jeju for foreign countries as well provinces such as Gyeongsang-Do, Gangwon-Do, Jeolla-Do, Chungchong-Do since the 19th century are referred to as Chulhyang Haenyeo. These Haenyeo created a song usually sang when missing home. They do this pulling on oars and begin singing. These songs expressed the emotions they felt. This practice is still on till this time.

HAENYEO UNION

There are 100 fishing village societies which are attached to fisheries cooperative societies union in Jeju which they sea farm. Diving has a strong community spirit thus Haenyeos always works together and never dive alone. This way dangerous situations are avoided.

Miss Jennifer went to explain about the traditional beliefs of the Haenyeos and how they appease the gods before going about their day’s work.

THE HAENYEO BELIEF

Haesindang- 해신당 is a shrine situated along the sea. It’s a ritual place for the shaman and Haenyeos to pray for their safety and appease the gods. Jamsugut- 잠수굿 and Yowanggut- 요왕굿 are dances performed for their safety. (Jamsugut is performed on march 8th on a lunar calendar in Donkimnyongri- 돈김룡리. It’s symbolic ritual and festival for Haenyeos community). Other dances too are Yowamaji- 요와마지 used to call Dragon King to pray for abundance and safety. Sidream is a migical ritual to plant seeds into the sea to harvest an abundance of sea food and items.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE HAENYEO TO COMMUNITY.

The Jeju Haenyeos helped in convenience for other local residents too by paving roads and building a school, all from their incomes. These proceeds were used to fix places like “Ijangbadang” which is the area for the village head. School also like the “School Badang’’.

WOAH!! That was a lot and yet still not even half of the Haenyeo stories. I will never forget the experience and even lovely people i got to speak to. my favourite part was modelling as an Haenyeo lol a very funny and yet educative moment for everyone. We took pictures with the Director of KCCN Mr Kim Chang-Ki and videos of lots more exhibited items. Sharing everything is impossible but i hope this writeup gives you a glimpse of how it actually felt like.

And finally FOOD!!! lol i am a sucker for food and trust KCCN to blow your taste buds. We had baked snacks in shape of Korean dishes plus different brands and flavours of juice. i was in quote “Haenyeo with class” while stuffing my face. I really thank KCCN for this opportunity and crossed fingers for MORE!.