Pohang Haenyeo Attend Jeju Festival
“Continuous Exchange with Jeju Haenyeo”
Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Organization (President Kim Namil) announced that it successfully held the "Pohang-Jeju Haenyeo Exchange" event in Jeju Island for three days from the 20th to the 22nd.
This event, hosted by Pohang City and organized by Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Organization, aimed to contribute to the preservation of Haenyeo culture, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, through exchanges and documentation of Haenyeo, as well as to brand Pohang's Haenyeo culture and discover new marine cultural content along the East Coast.
About 20 female divers from the Pohang area in Gyeongbuk visited the Jeju Haenyeo Festival to discuss ongoing exchanges with Jeju female divers.
Coinciding with the National Haenyeo Association Inaugural General Assembly (September 20), the 7th Haenyeo Day Ceremony (September 21), and the 17th Jeju Haenyeo Festival (September 21-22) held in Jeju, about 20 Haenyeo from the Pohang area participated in this exchange event.
Although Jeju Island is typically associated with Haenyeo, as of 2023, Gyeongbuk ranks second nationwide in the number of Haenyeo (1,043), following Jeju (2,825). Among regions in Gyeongbuk, Pohang has the largest number of Haenyeo (767), accounting for the highest proportion.
The Pohang Haenyeo Exploration Team, together with Haenyeo representatives from across the country including Jeju, participated in the street parade that opened the Jeju Haenyeo Festival, drawing significant attention from Jeju residents and domestic and international tourists.
The team also attended the Haenyeo Day Ceremony, Haenyeo performances, and the National Haenyeo Association launch performance, and visited the Jeju Haenyeo Museum. There, they broadened their understanding of the history and daily life of Jeju Haenyeo, as well as the anti-Japanese movement by Jeju Haenyeo.
During their meeting with Jeju Haenyeo, the Pohang Haenyeo had meaningful discussions on the preservation and transmission of Haenyeo culture, continued exchange among Haenyeo, and the necessity for policies supporting Haenyeo.
Jo Gyuseok, an 85-year-old Haenyeo from Guryongpo-eup who left Jeju and settled in Pohang at the age of 20, shared, "Today at the Jeju Haenyeo Festival, I was moved to tears when I met a childhood friend from my hometown. I wondered if I would ever have another chance to come, so I decided to join. The time spent with fellow Haenyeo was truly enjoyable, and it felt like a reward for my '70 years of diving.'"
Kim Namil, President of Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Organization, stated, "Haenyeo are fishers who have supported their families, the foundation of fishing village communities built through cooperation with fellow Haenyeo, and the 'mothers of the sea' who contribute to the marine ecological environment." He added, "We will take the lead in preserving Haenyeo culture while discovering marine tourism resources together with Haenyeo."
President Kim further commented, "By linking the designation of the East Coast UNESCO Global Geopark from Gyeongju to Uljin, the opening of the Donghae Line railway, and Haenyeo heritage, we will create a new turning point for marine tourism along the Gyeongbuk East Coast."
Meanwhile, this event has continued for three years as part of the "Agreement for the Exchange of Marine Humanities and Vitalization of Island Ecotourism" signed between Gyeongbuk and Jeju in 2022. Last May, a Gyeongbuk-Jeju Haenyeo exchange event was held in Ulleungdo.
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