What is Hanyeo?
Hanyeo, the mermaid of Jeju are females whose job is to harvest seafood, while controlling breathing without any apparatus.
Jeju Hanyeo
Jeju Hanyeo make their living by harvesting abalones, conches, sea cucumber, and hijki from the ocean. They are called Jamsu, Jamnyeo and Jamsu in Jeju. Their lives are an integral part of history of Jeju. The job they do in the sea is called "Muljil".
Jeju women are as diligent as men and learn early how to swim. They begun swimming at 7~8, and were skillful in Muljil by age 18, and excellent and superior Hanyeo by age 35. They are considered rare women and attract a lot of attention from around the world.
There were 15,000 haenyeo as early as in the 1970s but today, only about 5,000 remained. The haenyeo under the age of 40 account for only 15% of the total number. Even though they have remarkable diving capabilities, Jeju haenyeo’s
lives are no different from that of typical Jeju women, farming the
land and working in the fishing industry at the same time for their
living. The haenyeo are at
risk of becoming extinct today as their job has long been considered the
lowest of occupations and sea products have decreased rapidly, which
means unique cultural heritage may disappear for good.
Here is a video I found online where you can see Jeju Hanyeo diving without any apparatus. Really salute and amazed when I heard about that. I even saw some Hanyeos diving during winter! Wonder how they can withstand the coldness of water during winter...
Muljil Skill (Diving Skill)
Muljil skill is acquired by lengthy training and experience. Hanyeo near the ocean learned how to swim and dive in the shallow sea at the age of 8 and become baby Hanyeo at age 15. Physical conditions such as lung capacity, ability to withstand pressure, and capacity to adjust cold water are needed. Cool nerves are also necessary when swimming near and encountering big fish. Jeju Hanyeo have extended their skill and wisdom, by learning the effective use of physical strength and knowledge of the ocean from the seniors at the Bulteok.
Jeju Hanyeo Museum
Jeju has established the Jeju Haenyeo Museum to introduce to the
world the unique activities and culture of Jejudo’s haenyeo female
divers.
The Lives of Haenyeo (Exhibition Hall 1)
In this part of the museum, you can look closely into the different aspects of a traditional Jeju fishing village in seasons which has the 'bulteok', 'dodaebul', 'bangsatap' and 'won-dam', houses that were lived in by haenyeos which were restored to its original state; clothes, and seafood replicas of grilled conch, abalone porridge, sea urchin soup as well as other items that were necessary in the day to day living.
Furthermore, a real life depiction of the haenyeos who went out to sea according to the tide to collect the sea produce and farmed on the fields when they didn't go out to the sea has been set up as well.
- Haenyeo's House
- Fishing Village
- The Myth of Yeongdeung Halmang
- Jeju Customs for all Seasons
- Food, Clothing and Shelter
- Half Farming and Half Fishing
- Jeju's Sea
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| Haenyeo's House |
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| Haenyeo's House |
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| #1: Inside Haenyeo's House |
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| #2: Inside Haenyeo's House |
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| #3: Inside Haenyeo's House |
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| #4: Inside Haenyeo's House |
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| #5: Inside Haenyeo's House |
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| Fishing Village |
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| #1: Haenyeo's Clothing |
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| #2: Haenyeo's Clothing |
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| #3: Haenyeo's Clothing |
Haenyeo's Workplace (Exhibition Hall 2)
In this exhibit, it includes the bulteok where they exchanged information and took care of the seafood that they had caught while they warmed themselves after they have changed from their wet work clothes. Other display include the scene of diving off a boat to collect seafood, tools such as taewakmangsari, water googles, and bitchang. Items of further interest that are on display include traditional work clothes that were worn during diving such as the sojunggi and rubber suits. As to the depiction of records of anti-Japanese movement have been placed and the scene from the night school during the Japanese occupation has been appropriately re-enacted.
- Bulteok
- Diving Tools
- Diving off boats
- Haenyeo photo album
- History of the Jeju Haenyeos
- Modern history of Jeju Haenyeo's Struggle
- Haenyeos that go away on long expeditions to dive
- Diving Techniques
- The face of best haenyeos
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| Bulteok |
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| Haenyeo Fireplace (Bultuck) |
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| The scene of diving off a boat to collect seafood and etc. |
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| Haenyeo Night School |
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| Haenyeo Night School |
The Sea (Exhibition Hall 3)
This is an area which exhibits fishing culture and their vivid livlihood of the haenyeo's workplace which is at the same time the workplace of their husbands who were fisherman. You will be able to slowly browse through the exhibit of catching Jari (Jeju fish, Latin Name: Chromis Notata), and anchovies using traditional boats called taewoo. You will also be able to peek into ancient fishing activities and the Gueom's 'stone' saltpans. You will also be able to see the Japanese' Ama Dress and tools.
- Taewoo
- Face of a Haenyeo
- Jeju Folk Songs
- Jeju's Fishing Industry
- Ancient Fishing Activities
- Gueom's 'Stone' Saltpan
- Catching Anchovies
- The Fishing Industry in the Korean Peninsular
- Japanese' Ama Dress and tools
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| Catching Anchovies |
Children's Haenyeo Museum
This center was specially prepared to give a chance to children so that they can understand Jeju's traditional culture through hands-on experience of diving into the sea themselves. By doing this, they will be able to have more interest and favorable impression about the haenyeo culture. The ultimate purpose of this center was the education of marine culture for the younger generation. Some of the corners include, wearing haenyeo clothes, carrying the water container on the back, going on the boat, collecting seafood from the sea, the myth of the Coral Haenyeo.
- Hon-jeo-op-seo-ye (Welcome)
- Haenyeo's House
- The Myth of the Coral Haenyeo
- By the Seashore
- On the Boat
- Collecting Seafood
Address:
(3204-1 Hado-ri) 26 Haenyeobakmulgwangil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Tel: +82-64-782-9898
Website: www.haenyeo.go.kr (In korean only)
Directions:
By Bus (Duration Time: 60 mins)
- Jeju Airport/Jeju Passenger Ship Terminal (Take the Airport bus no.100 or no. 200).
- From the Jeju Express Bus Terminal, take the bus that goes in the direction towards Saehwa or Seongsan (Route No. 12)
Get off at the Jeju Haenyeo Anti-Japanese Movement Memorial Tower stop at the Hado-ri, Gujwa-eup.
By Car - Route No.12 (Duration Time: 50 mins)
Airport --> Express Bus Terminal --> Saehwa-Seongsan direction --> Hanyeo Museum
Click here for the map.
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 18:00
Close for every first Monday
Ticket Prices:
- Adults: Individual 1,100 Won/Group 800 Won (~RM3.00)
- Youths: Individual 500 Won/Group 300 Won (~RM1.00)
- Children: Free
*Check here for the summary of my 2012 Korea+Jeju Trip itinerary.
