Jeju Haenyeo Statue Unveiled and Camellia Tree Planted in Guryongpo, Pohang... Strengthening Marine Cultural Exchange

Pohang City has strengthened marine cultural exchanges and friendly cooperation with Jeju Special Self-Governing Province to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation.

On August 6, at the grassy square of Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center in Pohang, the unveiling ceremony of the 'Jeju Haenyeo Statue'?donated to Pohang by the Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province?and the 'Camellia Tree Commemorative Planting' event were held, reaffirming the historical ties and cultural bonds between the two regions.

At the grassy square of Guryongpo Gwamegi Culture Center in Pohang, the unveiling ceremony of the Jeju Haenyeo Statue and the commemorative camellia tree planting event were held on the 6th. Photo by Pohang City

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This event, organized as part of marine humanities exchange and cooperation projects between Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and Pohang, was designed to share the spirit of Jeju’s haenyeo and the value of coexistence with nature with Pohang, while also strengthening the connection between the two regions.

The Jeju Haenyeo Statue is a sculpture symbolizing the resilient lives of haenyeo who have continued their work amidst rough waves. The statue depicts a haenyeo holding a tewakmangsari in her right hand and a kakkuri in her left, symbolizing the pride and vitality of haenyeo.

In particular, Guryongpo is a representative area where, in the mid-1960s, more than 1,580 haenyeo from Jeju settled and worked. At that time, the Jeju haenyeo passed on their diving skills to local haenyeo, making significant contributions to the formation of Pohang’s marine culture.

The haenyeo statue donated this time commemorates these historical ties and serves as a symbolic reminder of continuous marine cultural exchanges between the two cities. It is scheduled to be relocated and displayed at the Guryongpo Haenyeo Welfare Business Center, which will be completed in 2026.

The subsequent 'Camellia Tree Commemorative Planting' event featured the planting of a camellia tree, which symbolizes the natural beauty and resilient vitality of Jeju. The tree will take root in Guryongpo, exposed to the sea breeze, as a symbol of Pohang-Jeju marine cultural exchange.

Camellia Tree Commemorative Planting. Provided by Pohang City

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A special exhibition on Jeju haenyeo also opened at the special exhibition hall of the Gwamegi Culture Center. The exhibition features more than 30 photographs and videos themed on the lives of haenyeo from Hadori, Jeju, and consists of works created by world-renowned photographer Kim Hayoung and Jeju haenyeo. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge until August 31, and guided programs are also available.

Oh Younghoon, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "Haenyeo are those who have lived their lives closest to the sea," and expressed his hope that "the spirit of the haenyeo will resonate here as a single breath connecting Jeju and Pohang."

Lee Kangdeok, Mayor of Pohang, said, "Cultural exchanges centered around haenyeo will further deepen the cultural bonds between the two regions," and added, "I hope that today’s donation of the Jeju Haenyeo Statue and camellia tree will serve as a catalyst for the spread of local marine culture."

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