Last of the Sea Women, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

I am a haenyeo.

Haenyeos dive in the ocean

harvesting marine life

using just our own breath.

As haenyeos, the ocean feeds us,

and feels like our mother's arms.

It's more than that, though.

Being a haenyeo is a calling.

Haenyeos are guardians of the sea

and we have protected the ocean

for hundreds of years.

Jeju is the homeland of the haenyeos.

Jeju is famous for three things -

rocks,

wind,

and women.

The other way.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight.

Shake your hips.

Seven and eight!

Stop acting pretty and just follow me!

Whose is this? Grab this.

All aboard!

Sis, there's a lot of mugwort here.

Please give me some.

This is a job you pour

your heart into.

Passed down from our mothers

and grandmothers.

Even when it's cold or

we don't feel like diving, we still dive.

It's in our bones.

We are women, after all.

Do you think you can make it up there?

I have to carry it.

Let's do it together.

Put it over here.

The sea has changed though,

and the haenyeos are disappearing.

I feel like the haenyeo culture

is melting away.

Please don't ask...

Please do not ask my age...

I've done nothing worthy

in my fleeting youth

In the past, we used rowboats

instead of motorboats

to dive around that island.

And while rowing, we sang.

What do I do when my youth wastes away?

Life in this world is just like that.

Good job!

Hey, fishing chief! What time is it now?

7:30 A.M.!

Then I'll work for four hours

and come out.

Hope you catch a lot!

Okay, I will!

I couldn't even swim at first.

I couldn't even swim,

but I just loved the sea.

I was trying to avoid doing my chores.

My mom would order

me around at home

whereas when I was in the sea,

I could be free and play.

So I learned to be a haenyeo at 16.

My mother pushed me

to get married at a young age.

I was so obedient

so I did as she said

and I married and stopped diving.

I was nave... too nave.

My husband liked partying.

Perhaps he didn't want to work hard

because he knew he'd die young.

So I went back to being a haenyeo

to survive.

I've worked for fifty-two years.

Now that my life is finally good,

my body is starting to break down.

While my wallet is thick,

my flesh is thin.

That's the irony of life.

Look at this!

Obunjagi - cousin of abalone!

Captain, we will take the boat

at 8 o'clock tomorrow.

Unloading things from a boat

is hard for my old age

and I hate catching sea urchins the most.

- How much per 100 grams?

- 13,000 won per 100 grams.

That's wholesale price, wholesale price.

Others might like it

because it makes good money.

After 4 hours of harvesting,

I have to peel them for another 4 hours.

Quick hands can do it in 3 hours

so I am always a burden for my colleagues.

When I catch a lot of seafood,

I don't feel tired.

I don't feel tired at all.

But when I gather only a little,

I feel exhausted and annoyed.

- And you don't earn much.

- I haven't earned anything.

But still, I feel happy when I am

in the ocean no matter how much I make.

I get excited, excited.

In the old days, when we were young,

people looked down on haenyeos.

For example, if your husband was

someone influential in the village,

he'd say, "Do you have to work as

a haenyeo and embarrass me?"

Well, I was uneducated,

so I didn't want to reveal

that I am a haenyeo.

When we went to our husbands' reunions,

we were the only haenyeos there.

While other husbands' wives weren't

haenyeos and looked polished,

our faces were dark from

working out in the sun.

So we were too intimidated

to say a word back then.

Our faces were so dark,

makeup couldn't even cover it

so everyone could tell.

- I'm telling the truth.

- It was really embarrassing.

That was a long time ago.

But now... now...

UNESCO recognizes us

so we haenyeos can stand tall.

I'm much more proud to be a haenyeo

now than I used to be.

I do want to continue

working as a haenyeo

because it's fun.

But I'm trying to reduce the amount

of work I do now,

and live the rest of my life volunteering.

Hello.

I am Jang Soon Deok,

your tour guide.

I dive in these waters.

Please walk slowly and carefully here.

There are snakes out here.

Just follow me slowly and steadily.

These are some of our diving spots.

Oh, I see more trash than I expected.

More trash builds up over there

during the winter.

A lot of this pollution comes

from China and Japan.

From mainland Korea too.

When I was young, I never saw trash

like styrofoam in the sea.

Now there are truckloads

of garbage sitting there.

Piles of waste

have been rotting for so long

that dirty liquid flows out of them.

The clean ocean has become polluted

because of things like this.

Haenyeos have endured many hardships

to protect our sea so far.

Why? Because we haenyeos are healthiest

when we're in the sea.

I started when I was 20.

I had to catch a lot of conch

to provide for my family.

Times were hard back then,

and people were poor.

I must have been great at it then too!

When my net got full

from catching so much,

I would just empty it by the shore

and go right back in.

I'm the best at collecting sea urchins.

It brings a good income,

and I can be financially independent

because I am healthy.

Hey!

Where is everyone? It's 6:00 A.M. already!

Can you believe this? I got a call to be

here now and they're still on their way!

- They told us to come here at 7:00.

- They said 7:00 A.M.?

Oh no!

The captain said so.

Is there a chance you won't

be able to work today?

Yeah, we may not.

If the elders say no, we can't.

Conch work can be done

in these conditions,

but with sea urchin,

the thorns can pierce your head.

They're fighting. They're fighting.

Who said we start at 7:30 A.M.?!

Joo Hwa!

Why are you just coming now at 6:30 A.M.?

The captain said

we were going in at 6:00 A.M.!

You don't have to shout.

Don't shout?

I'm so pissed I can't help it!

Haeng Ja, cut it out already.

I made a mistake. I made a mistake.

Oh, boy. I made a mistake. I made

a mistake, I beg for your forgiveness!

Okay, can we please

get our wetsuits on now?

Can we walk over to the spot?

No! Just get in the truck.

Everyone get in.

Alright, let's go!

It hasn't been that long since

we began wearing wetsuits,

perhaps about 40 years ago?

We weren't even allowed

to wear flippers then,

in case we caught too much, too quickly.

When we're gone, the younger generation

might start using oxygen tanks.

But for now, we prefer to do things

the old-fashioned way.

Working for hours with oxygen would

lead to over-harvesting anyway.

If you try to collect too much

in one dive,

you'll "eat your breath."

You'll die. You'll die.

And if you go too far out to sea,

the waves become much stronger.

When we dive down, we can get

swept too far out by the current.

Death is always around the corner for us.

Being a haenyeo is an extremely

difficult occupation

particularly because it's so dangerous,

which is why there are so few now.

The young haenyeos have asked,

"Why can't we use an oxygen mask?"

But that is not the way

of the haenyeo.

To collect seafood,

they have to hold their

breath underwater for up to 2 minutes.

Water pressure starts from a depth

of 5 meters underwater

and this water pressure is like a giant

blue glass pushing you down.

The deeper you dive,

the thicker the glass gets.

So when emerging,

you must break through this

"blue glass" with all your strength.

Haenyeos repeat this process

100 to 300 times when diving.

You try ramming your head 300 times a day.

Your head will pound

and it will hurt a lot.

When they discover dead haenyeos at sea,

strangely enough,

the haenyeo's net is always full

of abalones and other seafood.

As if death lured them

with the bait of luck.

The day they died,

they must have found a jackpot!

I'm tired.

I'm so exhausted I could die.

Catching urchins isn't the hard part.

Shelling them is what's difficult.

You've got people who help you!

But who's going to help me?

Do I have to go out and get a husband?

Why is someone calling

me at a time like this?

It could be a man calling!

Is my dead husband calling?

- Maybe so!

- Forget it.

- Where? Where is it?

- I said forget it.

It's probably nothing.

How would you know?

Just go find me a man to help

shell sea urchins!

- Attach a sign on your back!

- Huh?

"I'm looking for a husband to help me

shell sea urchins!"

I wonder how it will be tomorrow.

I doubt we'll be able to find any urchins.

Whenever it rains, all the wastewater

from the field,

like fertilizers and pesticides

goes directly into the ocean.

The water gets so dirty,

the seagrass is rotting.

It's a serious problem.

There's nothing left to catch.

We keep getting older, and it's getting

harder to make money.

How are we going to get by?

When we were young,

there was abundant marine life in the sea.

People used to work collectively

as a community.

To catch agar seaweed,

stag seaweed, and hijiki,

haenyeos would work collectively

and share the profits with each other.

We only stopped working

when our breasts got swollen

and we had to nurse our babies.

I don't think this younger generation

has the tenacity to live like we do.

They wouldn't want to.

There is a generational difference.

Yes, that's right.

A haenyeo's life is tough.

This way of life was our only option.

But these days, no one wants

to become a haenyeo anymore.

My wetsuit got caught on

this nail and tore.

That's bad luck.

You need to tie that up.

Show off that figure, girl!

These days there are less and less women

who dare to risk becoming a haenyeo.

The haenyeo way of life may go extinct.

The 1960s were the heyday

of the Jeju haenyeo.

The number of haenyeos peaked at 30,000

when the population of Jeju was 200,000.

But the number steadily declined

and now there are only about

4,000 haenyeos left.

The remaining 4,000 haenyeos are now

mostly in their 60s, 70s, and 80s.

Only grandmas work in the ocean now,

as if the Jeju sea itself has

aged alongside them.

During the Joseon Dynasty,

being a haenyeo was a tough job,

so mostly men did it.

After they found out this was so hard,

men just quit doing this job.

And women had no choice

but to do this job

because someone still needed

to earn an income.

Men can't handle this job.

For a girl or young woman

to become a haenyeo,

they would start training at age 7

for 10 years in the sea.

They learn how to swim, dive,

breathe, emerge from the water

and breathe out.

They learn how to harvest the seafood,

and where to find it.

Then, once they reach 15-17 years old,

they become a haenyeo.

People harvesting seaweed,

hurry up and get in line!

Group 1! Group 1!

Group 1! Group 1!

We were worried about the rapidly

dwindling number of haenyeos,

so we built this school in

Gwideok Village 15 years ago.

And since haenyeo culture

was recognized by UNESCO,

there seems to be a lot of interest.

Let's go get seaweed!

So in order to preserve the culture,

we're trying to foster and

teach the next generation.

All the teachers at Hansupul Haenyeo

School are from Gwideok Village.

But haenyeo Kang Joo Hwa,

she is the best diver

out of all the teachers.

She's a "sang-goon" haenyeo.

Those are haenyeos who can dive

deeper than 10 meters.

I'm also pretty strong

but even I can't keep up with

her if we dive together.

Whoa, it's cold.

One, two, three!

I swallowed some water.

You need to swallow

some of this water.

You need to drink this water

to be a haenyeo.

The students tell me,

"You must already know exactly where

the conch and sea urchin live!"

But nothing could be

further from the truth.

You need ambition.

The "I'm going to catch more

than others" type of ambition.

You have to keep repeating the process

over and over again until you catch it.

I can't dive unless our teacher

pushes me in.

Teacher, I don't think there's

anything down here.

Hey!

Come here.

I think I'm gonna die.

No, you won't.

One, two, three!

Today, they separated the good divers

from the not so good divers, like me.

I mostly just drink seawater.

See this? It says "future haenyeo."

I guess I'm a future haenyeo.

Our teacher is so great.

Other teachers are a little scary.

They say, "How do you expect

to become a haenyeo?"

But she's a fun and effective teacher.

The students get to experience how hard

the life of a haenyeo is.

So far, we have educated about 840 people.

But only about 5% end up

continuing on as haenyeos.

Alright, let's go home!

We can't seem to stop the disappearance

of the haenyeo population.

- Wow. This is so hard, isn't it?

- Yeah.

How do they move their bodies like that?

- What do we do? We're doomed.

- We're doomed.

After this, do this.

I'm no expert but straighten

your arm all the way.

Oh, straighten my arm?

Let's try it one more time.

If we do it one more time,

then we'll be perfect.

- Whoo!

- Perfect!

Perfect!

Liar.

- I feel like I'd ace it now.

- Me too.

Wow, our captain is so cool.

Growing up, I thought haenyeos

existed only on Jeju Island.

But after moving to Geoje Island,

I realized, where there is sea,

there will always be haenyeos.

But Jeongmin and I were the only

young haenyeos out here.

So, hoping to find people like us,

we made our own YouTube channel.

Hello.

- Jeongmin.

- Sohee.

Ready set, go.

Hello, everyone!

- We are the Modern Haenyeos... Jeongmin.

- And Sohee!

Nice to meet you.

It's going to be hot for us today,

because we're harvesting

stone sea pineapples!

Go in now!

It feels so nice in here.

Look!

You caught that already?

As soon as I got in the water!

Whoo-hoo!

I used to work in an office from when

I was 20 to 25 years old.

In a stuffy building,

I was tired and burned out.

But since becoming a haenyeo,

I feel comforted and soothed

working in nature.

When I became a haenyeo,

I set the record for being the youngest.

And now I want to set the record

for becoming the oldest haenyeo.

I actually didn't know much

about haenyeos.

But 7 years ago,

my husband's company

went out of business.

At the time, I didn't even know

how to swim.

But instead of feeling fear,

I thought

if I can make money off of this,

I want to try.

Obviously, it was difficult at first.

But still,

for a working mom, it's hard to find

a flexible job like this in Korea.

So I kept at it.

I'm exhausted.

Being a haenyeo is physically

hard and dangerous,

but raising kids...

it's never-ending!

Every mom in the world

knows what I mean.

I'd rather work in the ocean

for 7 hours.

- As I grow up.

- As I grow up?

"Grow."

You can just put one vowel here.

- As I grow up.

- As I grow up.

- Who borrowed this book?

- Me.

- Naru, Naru, Naru.

- Lae Won, it was Lae Won.

- Huh?

- What is it?

Lae Won's.

What is it?

It's about growing breasts and body hair,

basically a book about signs of puberty.

Yeah, I noticed kids are interested

in those things these days.

Oh.

Do Hun, you'll have body hair next year!

Let's stop talking about body

hair and get ready to eat!

Please clean the table.

- Mine, mine, mine.

- Wow, you gave him a lot.

Please bring this to the table.

- Isn't it tasty?

- Yes.

I am thankful, yum yum.

Since being on YouTube and TV,

my kids, Do Hun, Lae Won and Naru,

love that I'm a haenyeo.

They say, "Mom is the coolest person."

MY MOM IS A HAENYEO

In fact, Naru keeps telling me that

she wants to be a haenyeo.

On one hand, I'm happy to hear that,

but on the other hand,

I don't want her to do it.

Being a haenyeo is such a hard job.

I keep going back and forth...

Actually, don't do this work, Naru.

Mom will do it for you.

HAENYEO'S OWN CATCH!

ABALONES, SEA CUCUMBERS FOR SALE

AS SEEN ON TV

For all I know, those two are

the most famous haenyeos

in Geoje, Jeju, everywhere.

They were even invited

to meet the President!

They are the marketing

team of Geoje Island.

But it's actually not good for my business

that they're invited to so many events.

Sometimes it feels like they are

the boss rather than me.

- Did you guys take your goggles?

- Yes!

So you see them making YouTube

videos while working,

I let them do that.

They do whatever they want.

Move over to the side!

The water current is strong here.

No, we're going to dive here first

and then we'll move!

Compared to a team of 5 haenyeos,

just those two yield a higher profit.

I caught another one!

They're our successors!

Frankly, my income lately

has been steadily decreasing

year after year.

As recently as 3 years ago,

I was able to catch 100 kg worth

of sea pineapples in an hour.

But that's no longer the case.

Because of the rising global

temperatures, the ocean is changing.

As haenyeos, we can see this

happen before our eyes.

For example, a species of

small box jellyfish has been found here,

which used to live

in more tropical oceans.

And we try to film that

to warn people of the changes in the sea.

We want people to worry.

And there is no marine life living

in the shallow water anymore.

So Sohee and I have to dive deeper.

If this continues, will we,

with only our breath,

because haenyeos by definition

harvest seafood with only our breath,

will we be able to continue

to work this way in the future?

I won't be able to work

as a haenyeo for a year

because I got into an accident.

I'm thinking I was just unlucky.

I was getting some sea urchin.

And you know those big nets?

I loaded up two of those.

As I went to grab it,

I suddenly slipped near the water.

They put 8 steel pins in there,

and I was in the hospital for 14 days.

They said, if my foot were fingers,

8 out of 10 of them were broken.

I've never had such a

big surgery in my life.

My bad luck.

This is the first time I can't dive.

It was unspeakably difficult

to live this summer.

When I couldn't move,

my friends helped me

plant chives and broccoli.

Everyone in the village

was worried about me

because haenyeos aren't covered

by health insurance.

They say the job is too dangerous

to be covered.

Even the fishing cooperatives

only provide

compensation when haenyeos die

and not a single penny

when we get injured.

What good is money if I'm dead?

That was very disappointing.

Isn't it?

What good is it to be listed on UNESCO

when we can't get any benefits

when we need it?

But other haenyeos are envious

of my situation

because my late husband worked

30 plus years as a civil servant.

So I mostly live off of his pension

that comes out every month.

Life just goes on for the living.

This is ET Point, your go-to source

for economic news.

The Japanese government has announced

that radioactively contaminated water

that's been stored at the Fukushima

nuclear power plant

will be released into the ocean.

It has provoked immediate alarm

on Jeju Island, which borders Japan.

The International Atomic Energy Agency,

which has been verifying the safety

of contaminated water

from Japan's

Fukushima nuclear power plant,

explained that Japan's plan

to discharge contaminated water

meets international safety standards.

The method Japan has chosen

is both technically feasible

and in line with international practice.

Even though the large amount of water

makes it a unique and complex case.

These are all areas

that us haenyeos dive in.

But it feels like

it'll all be gone in 100 years.

And now Japan is planning to release

nuclear wastewater into the ocean.

We haenyeos are really worried about it.

If they release all of the

radioactive waste into the water,

the damage won't show up immediately.

They should figure out a solution

that is safe for everyone.

But Japan is moving forward with their

plans without consulting other countries.

We've relied on the sea our entire lives,

so this is a grave concern for us.

No, just one from the... Mr. Ban.

And yours. This is Japanese.

There have been two major

nuclear accidents in human history.

There was Chernobyl,

and there was Fukushima.

Since the 2011 nuclear meltdown

in Fukushima,

we have been concerned about

how the disposal of

contaminated wastewater would be handled.

The Japanese government claims

that the contaminated water

can be treated and released,

and the nuclear plant can be

quickly decommissioned.

What the company that operates

the plant is aiming for

is to dilute the concentration

of radioactive materials

by mixing it with an enormous

amount of seawater.

However, the problem is that just because

the concentration is diluted,

doesn't mean that the

radioactivity is gone.

On what basis is it safe to say

that the release

of Fukushima contaminated water is safe?

It is completely unprecedented.

We wanted to meet with the haenyeos

because they are vulnerable

to the impact of the contaminated water.

They deserve to know

all of the information

that is out there

about this urgent situation.

Hello haenyeo aunties.

Is everyone doing well?

Yes!

I came from an organization that works

for the environment in Seoul.

We have invited two experts

to speak to you

about the contaminated water

from Fukushima.

And we have some other folks from Jeju

who are also working on this issue.

So please ask lots of questions today

about anything you are curious about.

Okay.

Hello everyone.

I am from the Citizens'

Nuclear Information Center in Japan.

The water is being collected and stored

because of how dangerous it is.

But the Japanese government has said

that they are going to just release this

contaminated water into the sea.

But according to

the Japanese government's plan,

they say it will take

more than 30 years to release it all.

After that, once the

contaminated water reaches Korea,

it will continue to arrive every day.

This is not something that,

when you're exposed to,

you will see immediate effect.

And our concern is

that the effects of these discharges

will be felt over many hundreds,

if not many thousands, of years

because of the different radioactive

materials that will be discharged.

Even now,

there is no seagrass in our waters.

Coral bleaching is occurring right now.

Why is Japan only considering

releasing the water into the sea?

They have a lot of resources.

Couldn't they make a tank big enough

and leave it there for a while?

I knew that the ocean was

becoming very polluted.

But now that I hear Japan is trying

to discharge the wastewater,

I feel like I've been living

my life as a fool.

When the waves are strong,

we end up swallowing seawater.

You should definitely go back

to Japan and tell everyone.

I'll teach anyone who doesn't know.

Ban Hideyuki has worked for over

30 years on this issue.

In particular,

when the Japanese government

decided to try and release

the contaminated water this way.

It isn't easy to dissent from

within that country.

The situation right now...

we are in a situation where we are going

to have to hold a lot of demonstrations.

It's crucial that

we continuously send out the message

"You better do the right thing."

Even if you have to skip one or two

days of work, please come out.

Are you environmental groups

just sitting around idly

waiting for us to fight?

That's not going to work.

We came here today without

knowing anything.

There's a Japanese person speaking

Japanese and someone speaking English.

No matter how much they say,

we can't possibly understand everything

and answer you properly right now.

You're talking nonsense!

It seems that the two most

hardworking men today,

Mr. Ban Hideyuki and Director Kim Jeong

Do, are receiving the most criticism.

The two most hardworking people.

The two who have been working the hardest.

We can't keep bickering here.

We need to come together.

If we're fighting like this here, how

will we ever pull off a demonstration?

We must stop this. Absolutely.

Everyone needs to stand up and join in.

We can't let the people up top

prevent us from doing that.

We all must come out and

hold a demonstration

together on the same day in Jeju.

Even if we have to snap off Jeju City

or Halla Mountain, we must protest.

All the leaders in the fishing

cooperatives are men,

and they say they are against the issue

- but there's been no action taken.

- That's right.

I believe that the spirit

that haenyeos possess

is our eternal strength.

So we need to remind ourselves of Jeju

haenyeos' daring spirit from the past

and show them we will fight to the end.

On the day of the demonstration,

we'll assemble all the haenyeos.

That's right, that's right!

Moving forward, we'll cooperate,

and together with Japan,

we need to take action.

And I will work even

harder back in Seoul.

Stay in the fight with us and

let's continue to oppose this together.

We need to rise up.

- It has to be done.

- That's right.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's not a simple matter.

It's a big task.

It's easier said than done.

Thank you.

A blue crab!

How did you catch that?

Whoa!

Oh, I got it.

It's cute.

Let me see. Do Hun,

should we put it in a container?

- It's really big.

- Wow!

Remember what I told you, Naru?

Out of all the sea creatures,

crabs are

the most sensitive to pain.

I'll never be able to find

another as cute as this one.

I'll just go set it free.

Do Hun found this.

Have fun!

Mommy will be here eating.

Wow.

Dad, wait for me!

Come on.

When I imagine the future

for my kids, I feel sad.

As a mom, I want to protect

my kids from harm.

Ah! There's a jellyfish!

I'm scared!

There are so many jellyfish

floating around here.

- I'm glad you came here to participate.

- It's good that you came.

Thank you. Thank you.

You're not a haenyeo, though?

- I am a haenyeo! For 7 years.

- 7 years?

Oh wow!

- You've been on TV!

- Yes, that's right!

Is there much to catch?

There's less every day.

- You're from where?

- Geoje, Geoje, Geoje.

I love it so much, I want to keep

doing it for a long time like you aunties.

WE OPPOSE THE RELEASE

OF FUKUSHIMA'S

NUCLEAR CONTAMINATED WATER

WHICH DESTROYS

THE MARINE ENVIRONMENAND CITIZENS' RIGHT TO SURVIVE!

Hello, I'm Choi Kyung Sook,

a civil radioactive activist.

The Japanese government

claims they will remove radiation

through a polynuclear

removal process called ALPS.

But ALPS cannot filter out radioactive

substances like carbon-14 or tritium,

which has a very long half-life.

If the Fukushima

contaminated water is released,

it will reach Jeju Island

within about seven months.

So who can guarantee the safety

of haenyeos who work in the sea?

The Japanese government should

immediately withdraw its decision

to discharge nuclear-polluted

water from Fukushima!

Withdraw it! Withdraw it! Withdraw it!

Auntie, are there a lot of elderly

haenyeos in their 80s in Jeju?

There are a lot of haenyeos

in Jeju that are over 80.

- Oh really?

- She's 79!

How old are you now?

- I'm 30.

- 30... Are you married?

- Not yet.

- Not yet? Oh.

Jeongmin has three kids.

- Get married in Jeju.

- In Jeju?

Can I still be a haenyeo

if I get married in Jeju?

Yeah.

Hey, she has a son. She has a son.

She has a son.

- Hey, her son is the best fit for you.

- You'll be my mother-in-law!

It's the perfect fit.

Sis, should we pay our respects

and bow down?

It probably hasn't started yet.

Let's do it once we go up there.

Okay. Leave the money.

After we go up.

Sis, is that the right posture

for making rice cake?

Since I'm old and my legs hurt,

I do it this way.

Even though you've aged, there's not

a single wrinkle on your face!

I'm already a grandmother.

Hey, your face is pretty round.

So why are your rice cakes so long?

Well you're making

them uglier and uglier.

Sis, do we attach it like this?

Every year, haenyeos perform a

shamanistic ritual called a "goot"

and pray to the gods,

spirits, and ancestors.

In Jeju Island folklore,

there are 18,000 gods,

who live in the sky, the ground,

the mountains, the ocean, even in homes.

Haenyeos risk their lives every day

when diving in the ocean.

I am like an advocate between

the gods and the haenyeo.

I must do my best to plead to the Sea God

on behalf of the haenyeo,

telling him all about the

difficulties the haenyeo face,

explaining what they need,

and asking him what they should do.

I pray for the health of the ocean.

This year, haenyeos are trying

to put a stop

to Japan's plan to discharge contaminated

water into the ocean.

By performing the goot, they are

summoning the 18,000 gods

to come together on behalf

of the ocean.

We offer gifts and money to the gods.

Then, we invite the spirits

to arrive joyfully.

These rituals contain both

joy and sorrow.

It's the setting of life itself.

No harm must come to these

waters, Dragon King!

What shall we do?

Lead the members forward.

Our god knows everything.

Since I became a haenyeo

I never missed work.

Because I am a haenyeo

I went to the ocean every day.

Even if I was sick

I would forget the pain.

You know those granny haenyeos?

They don't ever think of retiring.

They will go kicking and screaming

if they can't work in the water.

I realized it's because they love

the ocean so much.

I must keep working in the sea as well.

So I'm not gonna let them dump Fukushima

wastewater into the ocean.

Today we're going to protest the

Fukushima wastewater release.

Other haenyeos are going as well.

But my foot is still sore,

so I'm not sure I'll march well.

We are the warriors of the sea!

Japan must withdraw their decision to

release contaminated water into the sea!

Withdraw! Withdraw! Withdraw!

Let's stop Japan's release

of the contaminated water!

Let's stop it!

Let's stop it! Let's stop it!

I'm 90 years old

but we came here today

because this is something we must do

despite missing work.

We've worked and lived in the water

since we were 18 years old!

We must stop this.

We must stop this!

They came all the way from Geoje Island.

This won't be the last gathering.

We need to speak up and join forces!

Jeju Island is known

for its pristine nature.

But soon, it will be surrounded

by the radioactive water.

How can we stand by and do nothing?

Everyone!

The reason I came up onstage

is because I am a haenyeo

who works in the ocean.

I even worked this morning.

It's hard to avoid swallowing

the seawater while working.

But if Japan pours contaminated

water into the sea,

are we the only ones who are doomed?

We have children, and we have descendants.

We need to pass on a clean sea

to our descendants!

Let us pass on clean waters!

We must pass on clean waters!

We can't trust our government

but if those people experience

what we are going through,

why would they poison our sea?

Right, everyone?

We don't know when this will happen

but they'll only stop if we speak up.

Our haenyeos are in danger!

DON'T MAKE US THE LASOF THE HAENYEOS

Japan must withdraw their plan!

We condemn it!

We condemn it! We condemn it!

The ocean has to be healthy for all of us

and the earth to be healthy.

If I meet someone

who thinks it's okay to discharge

contaminated water into the ocean,

I want to ask,

"Do you not have a future?"

It's not like

the earth will end in our generation.

There will continuously be

generations after us.

So this is m*rder.

An act of evil.

So we must stop this at all costs!

We will live and work in the

ocean until our necks are severed.

We will fight until the end.

It is a big day here in Japan.

There has been a controversial

buildup for this decision,

and today is the day it happens.

As we speak,

treated radioactive wastewater

is being released into the ocean.

The wastewater is being pumped

into a tunnel under the sea,

it's about a kilometer long.

And then being released into the ocean.

It is a very long process that's

going to span many decades.

They're predicting 30 years, maybe longer.

I was devastated.

No one's going to eat seafood anymore.

Things are looking really, really bad.

We won't be able to live

as haenyeos anymore.

I heard about the Fukushima

wastewater release

and thought

"Ah, we are in big trouble."

We might lose our homes and livelihoods.

Even though we love the sea

and try very hard to protect it,

we've lived long enough.

But what about our children?

They will all be deeply affected.

I urge the world to stop this

from happening. We must stop it.

This is the famous Room 20,

where the Human Rights

Council meets for its sessions.

They meet three times every year.

We have been working on the issue

of Fukushima for many years now,

and when Japan took the decision

to discharge the radioactive water,

we thought it was

important to have somebody

from the haenyeo fisherwoman community

come here and share their experience

directly with the Human Rights Council

in order to underline also

the transboundary harm

that the discharge can provoke.

I was contacted by the UN in Switzerland.

I came here to give a speech

against water contamination

on behalf of the Jeju haenyeos.

I flew 13 hours on a plane to come here.

As far as speaking to a crowd

in support of an important cause,

I'm not afraid.

One person's sacrifice can have

a big influence.

So I summoned the courage to come here.

"Be... Befo... Before... it's too late."

Shall we try the last sentence again?

This is 'please.'

- Then pause-

- 'Please.' 'Please.'

That's right.

'Please' is like saying 'help!'

It's like saying 'please help!'

Say this a little strongly, then 'may'...

'Before it's.' You did this part

really well. All at once.

'Before it's too' -

- 'late.'

- 'late.'

Then you stop there.

It would be good if you could

memorize this part.

So when you say 'water',

say it all at once.

Don't say 'we' or 'way.'

I'm thirsty. Can I get some water?

Shall I get you some water?

I'll give you some water.

It's really difficult trying

to pronounce English

using Korean letters.

If I was younger,

my tongue would be more nimble.

I think everything becomes

more difficult when you get old.

I wouldn't want to do this again.

Seriously.

Hello!

Good morning, how are you?

- Hello, good morning.

- Hello.

- Good morning.

- Good morning.

How was your flight?

Welcome to Geneva.

It was a long flight, it was really hard.

It was a very long flight, very arduous.

I read your statement, which is perfect.

Do you have any questions or

something you would like to know about

the Human Rights Council?

I was actually thinking about this.

Just in that brief moment,

not even a minute,

as a humble Jeju woman

and a female diver,

it would mean the world to me

if people from all over the world

could hear me out on what I have to say.

That's all I could wish for.

I am a haenyeo.

Are you there?

Yes.

Did you sleep well?

- It's time to go, so let's get ready.

- Hmm.

Okay, okay.

- Don't forget your papers.

- Okay.

Take one last look before you leave.

My face will still be my face

whether or not I look in the mirror.

- Let's go.

- Okay.

Let us go.

There, this one.

I'll sit in the seat next to you.

Morning.

Today's the day when

we visit the UN.

Are you nervous?

No, not at all. There's

nothing to be nervous about.

They're just humans like us.

- UN!

- We are here.

The time I have to speak is very short.

If those representatives

from around the world

considered even 1/10th of my speech,

that's all that I could wish for.

Morning!

- Here. You will go with her.

- Morning.

Good morning.

Nice to see you.

- Good luck, everyone!

- Please, let's go inside.

Uh, we should pass here.

And show your credential.

Here at the UN,

the environment is very formal,

technical, and very diplomatic, of course.

But also, there's a lot of politization.

So an indigenous woman, coming here,

it's not politicized at all.

It's just a human being

suffering the consequences

of this ill-conceived policy

and telling us the truth. Because

we can speak about what is on paper

but then they are on the ground,

they are the one that knows

the impact of the policy

applied by governments.

She has to keep this with her.

It's not easy at all for

communities and when people

participate here when they don't

have experience of this work.

And when they accept, we are very happy.

We try to do our best to assist them.

But then at the end, they are alone.

I am a haenyeo,

a sea woman from Jeju.

As a female diver,

I earn money from the sea

to feed my family.

Born into nothing,

I made my life through diving.

I lived all my life

in the clean Jeju seawater,

but Japan is dumping toxic water

in the ocean.

Please stop dumping the water

before it's too late.

Thank you.

I don't remember anything at the end.

I didn't have any strength left.

I think I was too full.

I didn't have any strength,

my legs were shaking so hard.

- Ah.

- You did great!

Whether I did good or bad,

I don't plan on ever doing this again.

I'm tired, I'm so tired.

It's the last time. The first but last.

You did great. Don't you feel relieved?

I do feel refreshed.

I need to buy a souvenir

T-shirt before I leave.

Thank you for this meal.

Where is she? Where is she?

Where is the one who

protected our country?

How was your trip to Switzerland?

I have some beautiful photos

to show you guys.

I'm going to change clothes.

I'm so proud of Soon Deok for

going to Switzerland.

I'm really proud of her

going there by herself.

I'm so proud of her.

She did a good job.

How was the food?

I only ate some bread.

But the bread was from Switzerland.

Well, did they buy you anything?

Did they give you money to buy food?

I didn't even know how to

spend my own money there.

Yeah, even if they did,

she wouldn't know how to use it.

You're a big deal now since

you went to Switzerland!

When do you think we can go there?

You should listen to me.

- You're a national hero now!

- Nationwide.

The main character!

You're going to be everywhere!

How good is that?

The doctor told me I

couldn't dive until next year,

but I can walk and I'm not in pain,

so I came today.

Watch out for the car!

I'm so happy to come

to work with everyone.

You know,

the day I injured myself,

I had gotten a new wetsuit

but it's all wrinkled now since

it was neglected for 3 months.

Let's get dressed!

Hey, Joo Hwa!

Help lift this up for me.

- Kang Joo Hwa!

- Yeah?

Pull this up for me.

Turn around! You're showing off

your big milk flanks.

Fine by me!

Grab these, and let's go!

Let's go.

The Haenyeo Festival is for after

we leave this world.

Future generations can remember

us by the festival

and learn the history of the

livelihood of Jeju Island's haenyeo.

So for that reason

we hold this festival every year

to not be forgotten.

Hello!

I'm a fan!

Oh, oh my, okay.

I feel like I'm meeting celebrities.

I've learned so much

watching your YouTube videos.

Thank you for your support.

I'm such a fan.

Thank you.

Today is our day!

Haenyeo day.

Ah, wow. Aunties!

You're here!

- Hello!

- Sit here.

Have you all been well?

How are you doing?

I've been really well.

By the way,

I heard you went to the UN.

As a national representative, yes.

Wow, could we have

your autograph please?

That's really cool.

I look up to you so much

for speaking out.

You must not have wanted to do it,

but I admire that courage of yours.

We have to keep fighting.

Right, we have no

choice but to do this.

To protect what we have.

We have more days ahead.

I'm really frightened

about the fact that I will

have to work in that scary sea.

This is our livelihood.

If people stop buying seafood,

we can't keep working.

That's why I'm frustrated.

We have to continue

our precious culture.

We should use our strength

to help them in this work!

- We can do it!

- Let's go!

That's what I'm talking about!

We've lived this long and our

experiences have not been in vain.

It's amazing that young women like you

would think of doing this kind of work.

I want to keep working

like you wonderful aunties

for a long time.

You have to work for 60 years!

You're right.

I wish we could live in Jeju,

and see you aunties like this.

Now Jeju Island could be

passed on to someone else.

If you two agree?

Let's be sisters from now on.

You come to our town,

and we'll go to yours!

- That would be perfect!

- This was meant to be.

Aw, we have to go now. Stay healthy.

Goodbye.

See you next time.

So lovely, our babies.

I'm about to cry.

Don't get sick. Take care.

Hug me too!

I'm crying because you're crying!

I feel like I'm sending my daughter away.

Don't cry.

Why are you crying then?

- We'll come pay a visit to Busan.

- Ah.

Goodbye!

Don't cry. Don't cry.

Let's meet next year, promise!

Let's stay in touch for a long, long time.

Oh, this is too much.

Row, keep rowing!

Keep on rowing!

Slap, slap! Row your oars!

Row, keep rowing!

They tell me to go diving

on a day

with no sun and no moon

Ieodo Sana, Ieodo Sana

Ieodo Sana, Ieodo Sana

On a lonely distant island,

will I eat or will I starve?

Will I eat or will I starve?

Guess I'll go diving

Ieodo Sana, Ieodo Sana

Ieodo Sana, Ieodo Sana

Row, keep rowing!

The ocean is our home.

We can't stop diving,

we have to go to the sea.

Even in my next life,

I will dive again.

Just an old woman and the sea, forever.