"Haenyeo Culture Must Be Protected by the State"... Opposition's Kim Mi-ae Proposes Haenyeo Fisheries Preservation Act

Number of Haenyeo Drops from 4,011 to 2,623 in 8 Years
Kim Mi-ae: "Not Just Fishermen, but Symbols of Korean Women"

A bill aimed at systematically preserving and supporting haenyeo fisheries, a unique traditional fishing practice in Korea, has been proposed.

Wind turbines of the Tamna Offshore Wind Power Complex are spinning behind the haenyeo statue on the coast of Hangyeong-myeon, Jeju Island. Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Mi-ae, a member of the People Power Party, announced on the 25th that she has submitted the "Act on the Preservation and Support of Haenyeo Fisheries" as the chief sponsor.

This bill includes policy support measures for haenyeo, as highlighted through the lives of the haenyeo "Jeon Gwangrye" and her daughter "Oh Aesoon" featured in the recently popular drama "Poksak Sogasuda."

In the drama, Jeon Gwangrye has depended on the sea for her livelihood as a haenyeo all her life, but she does not wish for her daughter to inherit the same life. According to statistics from Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the number of haenyeo dropped sharply from 4,011 in 2016 to 2,623 last year. The aging trend is also severe, with 90% of haenyeo aged 60 or older.

The bill stipulates that the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries must establish a basic plan for the preservation and support of haenyeo fisheries every five years, and that local governments must formulate implementation plans accordingly. This creates a structure in which both central and local governments systematically pursue policies together.

Additionally, those who meet certain requirements can be issued a haenyeo certificate, and both the national and local governments can provide support such as haenyeo allowances, settlement grants for new haenyeo, and subsidies for the purchase or rental of fishing equipment.

For occupational diseases frequently experienced by haenyeo, such as decompression sickness, the bill includes provisions for the state to subsidize medical expenses. It also provides a basis for offering welfare services such as health checkups, living allowances, housing support, and psychological counseling to retired elderly haenyeo.

Furthermore, to share the social value and significance of haenyeo fisheries with the public, the bill designates the third Saturday of every September as "Haenyeo Day."

Kim Mi-ae stated, "Haenyeo are not just fishermen; they are symbols of Korean women who have shared their lives with the sea and life itself, and they embody the traditions of the community." She added, "The state must step forward to respect and support the lives of haenyeo so that haenyeo-related culture can be passed down."