Jeju Haenyeo cultural heritage commemorations

Jeju Island is conducting various activities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Jeju Haenyeo culture being inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Cultural exhibitions have been organized to preserve local heritage. The Haenyeo Museum is hosting a photography exhibition titled ‘Distant Black and White Faces: My Mother, Jeju Haenyeo’, featuring works by artist Hyun Eul-saeng that document the lives and communal bonds of female divers. Additionally, the Jeju Stone Park is hosting the ‘Dotdotheon Story’ exhibition, which explores the historical role of pig farming in Jeju’s agriculture and village communities.

A commemorative forum titled ‘Living Cultural Heritage, Drawing a Sustainable Future’ was also held, bringing together approximately 200 participants, including active and retired Haenyeo, academics, and international organizations. Discussions at the forum addressed women’s economic independence, sustainable tourism models in Sehwa Village, and the potential use of AI to record traditional ecological knowledge. The event concluded with Haenyeo representatives presenting policy suggestions for community preservation to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province government.