Page 59 - Ocean Programming 2025
P. 59
PEOPLE & CULTURE
last mermaids of korea, the (w/t)
The phenomenally resilient sea women of Marado Island, at the southernmost tip
of South Korea, are like no one else on the planet. They may stumble walking on
land, but underwater, they are transformed into graceful swimmers. These are
Korea’s traditional Haenyeo: female divers who hold their breath for more than
two minutes, to depths of up to 20 meters and make their livelihood combing the
seabed for culinary treasures for restaurants in Korea and Japan. Once
widespread across the Jeju Island, Haenyeo numbers have declined to a handful
of old-timers. But youth is no advantage here. Haenyeo peak in their 50s when
they’ve how to read the currents and stay calm in stormy waters. In ‘The Last Definition Episodes
HD
1
Mermaids of Korea’ will discover the daily lives of the Haenyeo throughout the Producer YOP
year from the depths of winter through spring, summer and autumn, and explore DMZWILD and otf studios 2025
their extraordinary history.
