Korean American director and producer Sue Kim’s documentary “The Last of the Sea Women,” currently on Apple TV+, follows an incredible group of Korean women known as the haenyeo, women who dive into the ocean to harvest sea life as their livelihood. The haenyeo of Jeju Island dive up to 66 feet deep into the ocean without oxygen tanks and have passed down their trade for centuries. Now, their way of life is threatened by environmental issues: man-made — such as the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant — and not — the reduction of sea life due to rising ocean temperatures.
Traditionally, haenyeo work this labor-intensive and highly physical job all their lives. Many started their training as 7-year-old girls, learning to harvest abalone, conch, octopus, sea urchins, seaweed, oysters, and more. Today, these skilled divers are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, an amazing group of women who spent decades carrying on this physically demanding profession. As of 2016, this trade is now considered a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, but haenyeo were not always celebrated. Those featured in the documentary shared poignant stories of being marginalized and disrespected for their demanding work, facing societal judgment for their weathered bodies, and having to work because their husbands could not (or did not).
The documentary also shares the unique stories of a pair of young women in their 30s — by far, the youngest among the haenyeo. Over on Geoji Island, Sohee Jin and Jeongmin Woo document their work through engaging YouTube and TikTok videos, offering a fresh perspective on their industry.
For these women, this challenging work isn’t just a job — it’s a strategic career move. Jin, who previously felt burned out in the corporate world, now finds peace working outdoors, describing her new role as genuinely “comforting and soothing.” As for Woo, after her husband’s company shut down, she chose to…
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