Photo: Wikimedia Commons
An increasing number of young women in South Korea are leaving jobs in cities for a centuries-old vocation kept by female freedivers known as the haenyeo in Jeju province. Known for their independent spirit, the haenyeo played a crucial role in South Korea's sea-diving industry. This group of women harvested mollusks and other marine life with traditional methods that preserved the integrity of the ocean. Many people thought the ancient tradition was dying until the number of young haenyeos started increasing in recent years. Women like Ho-Jin Shin, 37, left high-paying, competitive jobs in the city and found a supportive and understanding work culture in the haenyeo community. In order to become a haenyeo, the women have to go through rigorous training and apprenticeships, in which they learn not only about harvesting, but also about the ocean and how to take care of it under the guidance of a veteran haenyeo.
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