Title: The Enduring Spirit of South Korea’s Haenyeo Divers: A Vanishing Tradition Captured in Time
As the sun rises over the crystal-clear waters of Jeju Island, off the southern coast of South Korea, a group of women prepare for a day’s work that has defined their lives and their culture for centuries. These women, known as haenyeo, or ocean women, are the subject of a poignant photo series by Seoul-based photographer Hyung S. Kim, who spent time between 2012 and 2014 capturing their essence.
The haenyeo are an anomaly in the world of diving, harvesting shellfish and sea life from the ocean depths without the aid of oxygen tanks. Their潜水 skills require them to hold their breath for up to three minutes at a time, a testament to their endurance and strength. Kim’s life-size portraits, taken just moments after the divers emerge from the water, present a stark contrast between their mud-caked shoes and the glistening wet gear that clings to their bodies.
These iconic women, many of whom have passed the age of 60, are the guardians of a fading tradition. The youngest diver Kim photographed was 38, while the oldest was over 90. There is a sense of urgency in Kim’s work, a desire to preserve their story before it is lost to time. They might be the last generation of haenyeo, and I wanted to document the beauty of these women, Kim explained to Nautilus.
The haenyeo’s inclusion on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016 highlights the decline of their numbers, from around 20,000 in the 1960s to just 2,500 today. Once a male-dominated profession, it shifted to reflect the semi-matriarchal society of Jeju by the 18th century and remains a woman-led practice.
Hyung S. Kim’s photographs, with their stark white backdrops, draw attention to the details of the haenyeo’s equipment: the tewak, an orange sphere that floats at the surface during dives, and the lead weights that help them descend quickly into the depths. Each portrait is a celebration of their strength and resilience, even as the profession faces an uncertain future.
In neighboring Japan, where the practice is believed to have originated, the haenyeo’s counterparts are also dwindling. The reasons are varied, from economic changes to the lure of modern convenience, but the impact is clear: a way of life that has sustained communities for generations is slowly fading away.
Kim’s documentation of the haenyeo divers is more than a series of photographs; it is a tribute to the enduring spirit of these women and a reminder of the cultural heritage that they represent. As their numbers dwindle, the images stand as a powerful record of a unique and vital aspect of South Korean culture, ensuring that their salty grit will not be forgotten.
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