[Inside Chodong] The Breath of Life, "Sumbi-sori"

The Labored Breaths of Haenyeo Divers
Over 1,500 Years of Jeju Haenyeo History Traced Back to the Samguk Sagi
Inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016
Recognized for Community Spirit and Sustainability
Rapid Decline in Haenyeo Population... Need for Win-Win Solutions to Increase Income

When haenyeo dive, they make a unique sound known as "sumbi-sori," which resembles a whistle. This sound is produced as they exhale carbon dioxide and inhale oxygen after holding their breath for over a minute and surfacing. While this sound may seem similar to most people, it is said to differ slightly for each haenyeo. For their families, it is a sign confirming the mother's safety, and for the haenyeo themselves, it is a breath of life released at the boundary between life and death.

The origins of haenyeo date back over 1,500 years. In the Samguk Sagi, under the Annals of Goguryeo, the 13th year of King Munja (503 AD), there is a passage stating, "Pearls (Ga, from abalone) are produced in Seopra (another name for Jeju)." This suggests that even before then, there were people who, like haenyeo, dived and offered tribute goods by submerging and resurfacing repeatedly in the water.

Until the mid-Joseon period, men would collect abalone, conch, and other seafood from the deep sea, while women gathered seaweed and marine plants in shallow waters, reflecting a division of labor. However, as the number of abalone required as tribute to the central government increased exponentially, men, unable to endure the harsh labor, fled to the mainland, and their work was passed on to women.

Haenyeo accepted their fate for the sake of their families' livelihoods. Thrown into the sea without special skills or safety equipment, they learned to survive on their own. By diving in groups, they looked out for each other's safety, and they built stone-walled shelters called "bulteok," where they could light fires and rest, sharing the dangers together. They also passed down the haenyeo's core principle: "Be wary of greed, collect only as much as needed, and gather only as long as you can hold your breath."

Thus, the word that symbolizes haenyeo is "strong mother." Their lives, dedicated to their families with the sea as their treasure, are depicted as noble sacrifices in books, documentaries, dramas, and films. In 2016, Jeju haenyeo culture was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The fact that its origins can be traced through ancient documents, its strong sense of community and unique identity, and its sustainability that does not go against nature were all highly valued. In 2023, "Jeju Haenyeo Fisheries" was designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Haenyeo image cut. Kplus Festival official website

Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of its inscription as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, but haenyeo culture is on the verge of extinction. According to Jeju Province, the number of haenyeo on the island, which exceeded 14,000 in 1970, dropped to 2,623 last year. Of these, 1,594 (60.8%) are over 70 years old and have been active for more than 50 years, indicating a rapidly aging population. The perception that the work is hard, the pay is low, and the risks are high discourages new entrants.

Haenyeo can dive for an average of less than 90 days a year, so they supplement their income by helping with tangerine farming, fieldwork, and gathering wild greens. While there is considerable interest in their lives abroad, the haenyeo themselves often feel embarrassed, describing their way of life as one they had no choice but to take due to poverty and lack of education.

The key to boosting their pride is fair compensation for their efforts. It is important to secure more distribution channels so that the haenyeo's catch, which is highly relied upon locally, can be more widely consumed. Recently, Shinsegae Department Store has been operating the "Haenyeo's Shinsegae" brand, selling seafood harvested by Jeju haenyeo and ready-to-eat products made from it at major store food halls. Rather than enforcing mandatory public holiday closures for large retail channels to protect small vendors in traditional markets, ideas like this, which incorporate a story, may be more effective for mutual growth. This is a noteworthy example for both online and offline retailers who are increasingly focusing on fresh food.