K-Drama Flashback: ‘The Last Mermaids: Huntresses Of The Sea’

On Jeju Island, female divers descend to the deepest points in the ocean in pursuit of seafood. They are the Hanyeos who once flourished. Conversely, industrialization and a spike in residents moving to metropolitan areas led to their numbers dwindling. Kim Sagan’s 2013 documentary, The Last Mermaids: Huntresses of the Sea starring Hyeon Ok-sun and Kang Yeong-ja, draws heavily from an extensive description of the trials and triumphs of Hanyeos, who are tenacious and willing to leap into the deep blue with no breathing equipment. This flashback piece will go over its findings.

One of Korea’s finest getaways is Jeju, occupying the southern part of the Korean peninsula and boasting breathtaking vistas. It is often dubbed Korea’s Hawaii, home to prevailing winds, towering rocks, and the Haenyeo women—free-diving without a respirator solely to provide for their families. The women, some of whom are in their 80s, hunt shellfish for their meals. It explicitly improves women’s social standing, conserving the island’s culture while encouraging sustainable development. This component of Jeju, its semi-matriarchal culture, is brought out in Kim’s documentary.

The Haenyeo was initially recorded in archives throughout the 17th century. Men went fishing or to work on warships and never came back; it is reported that they frequently got lost at sea. Thus, diving became a job that was primarily held by their wives as a means to make ends meet. It evolved into a necessity. The women started tilling the land and setting up farming activities, while also harvesting marine life. They have been engaging in this custom for more than 2,000 years, thus becoming the unsung heroes of Jeju.

The Japanese Ama is comparable to Hanyeo. The ama ladies, who are part of a long-standing fishing tradition, are typically referred to as Japan’s counterpart of pearl-diving mermaids, based on a feature in Culture Trip. The Ama collects abalone, seaweed, and other crustaceans precisely as the Hanyeo does. However, pearl diving is their most lucrative activity. While in the waters, the Ama ladies emerge after holding their breath for a moment at a time and slowly let out a whistling sound called “Isobue,” akin to the “Sumbi-sori” emitted by the Haenyo women.

Check out this Great Big Story video featuring the 78-year-old haenyeo woman, Kim Okja. She goes deep into the ocean every day as part of her routine in search of sea life for sustenance. She certainly gets fatigued and out of breath, nonetheless, she maintains tremendous mental and physical power.