Most people picture Haenyeo as women in their 70s, 80s, or even 90s, suited up in heavy-weight belts and diving just off the shore. That image isn't wrong, exactly — but that’s not everything.
These days, every fishing village on Jeju has younger women joining as Haenyeo after graduating Haenyeo School, welcomed into the community just like their elders once were.
Where the Change Began
This shift traces back to 2008, when the first Haenyeo School opened. The Jeju provincial government had watched the number of active Haenyeo steadily decline, and they decided to act to protect this culture before it disappeared.
Hansoopul Haenyeo School was the first vocational school built specifically to train the next generation of women who wanted to make Haenyeo diving their profession. It's open to any woman under 50, and the five-month course covers everything from the practice's history and heritage to safety protocols and the diving skills themselves.
Every year, about 50 new students enroll. Once they finish the five-month course, they're eligible to apply for internships in fishing villages. Since the school opened, roughly 1,000 students have graduated — and a meaningful number of them have gone on to register as Haenyeo and build lasting careers in the villages.
The Myths That Won't Go Away
Even with the school and younger Haenyeos/Haenam thriving, plenty of outsiders — especially Westerners — still cling to a few misconceptions driven by influential media and documentaries:
The Haenyeo are the last generation, and the tradition is dying out.
Haenyeo are exclusively women in their 70s or more.
Only women can become Haenyeo.
These days, none of that firmly holds up anymore. Thanks to the Haenyeo School, younger women are joining the ranks and playing a crucial role in carrying the culture forward — not just preserving it, but sharing it with the world. And contrary to popular belief, men can become Haenyeo too, once approved by a fishing village. Today, around 11 men work as divers; they're called Haenam ("sea men") rather than Haenyeo ("sea women").
role of the haenyeo school evolves
The school has also opened its doors to tourists who are simply curious about the practice, as well as groups of children and students on educational visits. Over time, Haenyeo School has grown beyond a simple vocational school — it now serves as a cultural and educational movement in its own right. Anyone interested can take a diving class with a certified Haenyeo instructor, and welcomes tourists eager to learn Haenyeo culture through hands-on diving alongside the sea women themselves.
Still, only a few travelers know Haenyeo School exists, and due to limited access without a local guide, fewer foreigners get the chance to immerse themselves in this authentic cultural experience.
Natalia, an avid digital nomad, took on a off the beaten path. During her solo travel journey, she got the chance to try something she'd dreamed about for a long time: diving with the Haenyeo.
“One of the most unforgettable experiences I had in Jeju was joining a Haenyeo diving experience. For the first time, I got to dive, search for shellfish and even managed to catch an octopus with my own hands. We were all so excited about it!
Even though, I’m practicing freediving too, this experience showed me that being a Haenyeo is about so much more than holding your breath under the water. It’s about resilience, courage, knowledge passed down through generations and an incredibly demanding way of life.
In my eyes, the Haenyeo are living proof that true strength isn’t measured by age but by purpose. Their resilience, discipline and devotion to preserving the tradition are deeply inspiring. In a world that is constantly changing, they continue to honour their roots with pride and respect. I think, we all felt that energy and strength on that day, in these powerful Sea Women Divers, the connection between people and their heritage but also in the ocean itself. I felt deeply moved by this experience. It made me reflect on my own purpose again and reminded me of my own deep connection with the ocean and its healing power.
“I believe that when you are driven by passion, purpose and a deep connection to what you believe in and are brave enough to truly live and embrace it, those values can carry you through an entire lifetime and inspire new generations to come.”
Natalia's experience shows exactly what Haenyeo School has become — not just a place to train future divers, but a bridge that lets curious outsiders step into this world too. As the school's role keeps expanding, more stories like hers may be just beginning.
