CNNGo | Korea’s Haenyo Divers

Last month I was in Jeju and Udo on assignment for CNNGo. I included an excerpt below together with a few more photos from the set. You can read the full article here.

Often referred to as Korean Mermaids, haenyo can dive up to twenty meters, holding their breath for several minutes as they harvest the sea bed for abalone, sea urchin, octopus and seaweed. Yet such line of work in a prevailing Confucian society didn’t sustain itself without considerable costs. The haenyo of Jeju and Udo Island have fought arduously for years, protecting their rights against men, governments and even armies in order to make a living from the sea.

Getting there: Flying is the best option. Jeju Airlines, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines all offer daily flights from Gimpo Airport (subway Line 5 and 9) to Jeju-do.

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