Jeju Island hosts exhibitions on traditional folk life and Haenyeo culture

Jeju Island is hosting two major cultural exhibitions focused on preserving the traditional lifestyles and heritage of its people.

At the Jeju Stone Park, the ‘Dotdotheon Story’ exhibition explores the history of pig farming on the island. Running from September 15 to December 13, the exhibit uses over 100 artifacts, photographs, and videos to illustrate how pigs were integral to Jeju’s diet, agriculture, and village communities. The exhibition covers the historical evolution of pig rearing, the role of pigs in communal feasts, and the transition to modern farming methods.

Simultaneously, the Haenyeo Museum is hosting a photography exhibition titled ‘Distant Black and White Faces: My Mother, Jeju Haenyeo’ to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Jeju Haenyeo culture being inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The exhibition features 54 donated black-and-white photographs by artist Hyun Eul-saeng, captured between the 1980s and 1990s. The works document the lives of female divers, highlighting their connection to the sea, their communal bonds, and the physical hardships of their labor. The museum will also host lectures and discussions involving the photographer and local poets to further explore the spirit of the Haenyeo.