[Translated]"Edo Sana" and the Waves of Jeju: The Story of the Haenyeo Women and the Power of Life
2025-08-13
The image on the right shows one of the Haenyeo women (from Korea Net Flickr), and on the left are the Haenyeo women from the drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” (Photo from Netflix Korea account).
All seasons merge on one island—an ideal tourist destination and a unique natural sanctuary that embraces the sea, land, and sky with breathtaking beauty. Located at the southernmost part of the Republic of Korea is Jeju Island. At the heart of this enchanting scene lies the story of extraordinary women known in Korean as Haenyeo, meaning “women of the sea,” referring specifically to the Jeju female divers. Many of these women are over sixty years old and still dive into the deep sea without breathing apparatus, courageously and patiently collecting the ocean’s treasures such as shellfish and seaweed. The first time I saw this was through the famous drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” where I was amazed that despite their age, they dive powerfully to live life.
This profession has spanned centuries as an inseparable part of Jeju’s cultural heritage and is recognized worldwide as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. The Haenyeo symbolize unbreakable strength and the will to face natural and social challenges with resilience.
For these women, diving is not just a job but a life deeply rooted in the customs and traditions passed down from their mothers and grandmothers. Some begin training at a young age, learning underwater breathing techniques and swimming among rocks and waves. Despite the difficulty and health risks that increase with age, they insist on continuing to dive, linking their existence to the sea as part of their identity and a symbol of their endurance. Although modern times bring many changes, the Jeju Haenyeo still preserve this heritage that connects them to both land and sea.
The image shows Haenyeo women wearing diving suits (Photo from Korea Net Flickr, 2015).
Just as every country has its own dialect for each city, Jeju Island has its unique dialect, called Jeju, which even Korean speakers find difficult to understand. This dialect is almost like a separate language with vocabulary and pronunciation completely different from standard Korean. For example, I learned from a language partner I met online that the Jeju greeting is "반갑수다" (Banggapsuda), meaning "Glad to see you," used without much distinction between formal and informal contexts. This language is preserved by elderly women, especially the Haenyeo, who speak it among themselves during work and in traditional folk songs.
Here comes the song "Edo Sana," the special spirit that the Jeju women live under the waves of the sea. It is a traditional folk song sung while preparing to dive, repeating the phrase “Edo Sana,” which is believed to refer to a mythical island or a place of rest after fatigue, perhaps symbolizing another life or psychological safety. The song, sung in rhythm with the sound of the waves, has no official written lyrics or melody but has been passed down orally through generations.
For the Haenyeo, this song represents an indirect prayer for safety and courage, a way to overcome the fear of the sea and its fluctuations. It also symbolizes strength at the start of their day and inspires them to dive bravely.
The image above shows one of the Haenyeo women diving, and below is one of Jeju Island’s beaches (Photo from Korea Net Flickr).
My choice to write about the Jeju divers was no coincidence but came after watching the new Korean drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” whose title derives from the local dialect phrase “복싹 수가수다” (Boksak Sugasuda), used to describe a wave of sudden joy or blessing! The drama, starring IU and Park Bo-gum, aired on Netflix in March 2025. Set in the 1950s and 1960s on Jeju Island, “When Life Gives You Tangerines” tells human stories about love, sacrifice, and the struggles of the Haenyeo women in earning their living amid the harshness of the sea and the unpredictability of life. The diving scenes, local dialect, and spirit of solidarity among the divers felt so real that I deeply sensed the difficulty and bravery of their work.
In a time when life accelerates and traditions change, the Jeju Haenyeo remain a living symbol of a renewed heritage connecting past and present. Their stories carry the weight of women who bear the responsibility of preserving heritage and humanity’s unique connection with the ocean. Their existence reminds us of the value of patience and inner strength and encourages us to appreciate the human stories filled with determination and dignity.
Keywords: Haenyeo, Jeju, sea, diving, life, history, Aseel Al Sailawi, Republic of Korea, Honorary Reporter, Korea Net
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