Haenyeo, the Sea Women of Jeju: Books, Movies and Shows to Start With

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Have you ever read a book and then suddenly found its theme everywhere? Two months ago, I knew nothing about the haenyeo, and now they’re one of my favorite interests. Content about them kept showing up in my life by happenstance, and I want to share it. This post covers a historical fiction book, a picture book, a documentary, a TV show, and a movie, all with stories about these incredible women I became a fan of.

The haenyeo are a community of women from Jeju Island in Korea. Today, most of them are in their 70s or older, and it’s becoming harder to find younger women to continue the tradition. They are sea divers trained to dive deep and hold their breath for minutes in cold water, harvesting shellfish, fish, and octopuses. That’s how they provided for their families, often while their husbands took care of the kids and the home. They are a matrifocal society.

I discovered them around the time I flew to Seoul, but I wasn’t able to travel to Jeju this time. Still, this post is an example of how we can explore a different culture from home through art. Jeju is high on my bucket list now, and I can’t wait to learn about the haenyeo in person.

The Island of Sea Women – Lisa See

Buy The Island of Sea Women at Bookshop.org

I was recommended this book after finishing Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (you can read my review here), and it quickly became one of my favorite books. Just like with Pachinko, I felt like I was saying goodbye to good friends when I finished the last page.

The book follows Young-Sook, her relationship with her close friend Mi-Ja, and their families, from the moment they meet, through their training as divers, and into adulthood. Along the way, it crosses major historical moments: Korea being annexed by imperial Japan, World War II, and the Korean War. It’s extremely involving and emotional, and it’s also educational, since I learned so much about those periods. If you liked My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, I think you’ll like this one too.

Smugglers – Korean Movie

When I boarded my flight to Seoul on Air Premia, I had my Kindle with me but no idea what to watch on the in-flight entertainment, since they only had Korean movies and TV shows (Click here to read my flight review). Little did I know, I would find a haenyeo movie!

The plot is set in the 70s, so the outfits, hairstyles, and decor are fun and colorful. The first scene shows the divers in the water and their sumbisori, the whistling sound they make when coming back up for air. That already got me excited, especially because I had only imagined it while reading the book and hadn’t seen it yet. In the story, a group of divers struggles to harvest seafood because a nearby factory is poisoning the waters. To provide for their families, they end up getting involved in a smuggling business. The movie is fun, full of action and some drama, which is perfect for a flight.

The Last of the Sea Women – Apple TV

When I first mentioned my interest in the haenyeo to a friend, she immediately recommended this documentary. I really like Apple TV productions, so finding out they had one about the haenyeo was a treat. The book I was reading is set a long time ago, and in the documentary I could see the real women today. It talks to older haenyeo and to the younger ones (the very few and rare ones), and it shows them protesting Japan’s release of water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. It’s sad to see that not only is it harder to find women interested in becoming haenyeo, but the environmental impact itself might stop this community from existing, as seafood gets harder to find.

Mom Is a Haenyeo – Go Hee-young

I’m passionate about picture books, and I believe people of every age should be reading them. When I saw this one online, I knew I had to have it, and since I was already in Korea, I figured it wouldn’t be hard to find. I went to Kyobo Bookstore (you can read more about that day in my Mullae-dong guide) and asked for it. I didn’t know if they would have Korean or English versions, and I was happily surprised to find that the book is written in Korean, with English translations on the final pages. The illustrations are by Eva Armisén, and they’re absolutely beautiful. As soon as we sat in the taxi leaving the Times Square Mall, I rushed to unwrap the book, and my boyfriend said I looked like a kid opening a Christmas present.

Haenyeo Restaurant – Park Slope, New York

We were strolling through Park Slope after dinner when we ran into a restaurant called, you guessed it, Haenyeo! I haven’t been yet, but it’s on my list. It has been recognized with a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and I can’t wait to try it. I just find it interesting how this topic suddenly showed up everywhere.

Pachinko – Apple TV

This is an honorable mention, since the story of Pachinko isn’t really about the haenyeo, especially in the book. But in the Apple TV show, there’s a brief scene on the first season where young Sunja dives with the sea women to catch seafood for her family. It was another small appearance of them in my life, and I appreciated it.

Learning About a Culture Through Art

I wrote all this because I want to learn more about these incredible women and visit Jeju as soon as I can. It’s also a reminder that we don’t need to travel somewhere to experience a different culture: we can use art to travel too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Haenyeo