The 19th Jeju Haenyeo Festival celebrates the ten-year anniversary of Jeju’s haenyeo culture being inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Taking place near the Jeju Haenyeo Museum, the festival features a parade of around 1,000 female divers, known as haenyeo, who harvest seafood through free-diving techniques passed down through generations.
The opening day included traditional rituals for safety and a bountiful sea, followed by a lively parade with floats and nets used in diving. The festival offers performances, exhibitions, and interactive programs aimed at ensuring the haenyeo culture continues to thrive among younger generations. Despite its cultural significance, the number of active haenyeo has dramatically decreased from over 14,000 in 1970 to just 2,371 last year.
