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Past Program
* Date : 2016-12-19
Culture of Jeju Haenyeo Recognized by UNESCO
At the 11th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultual Heritage of Humanity, held on November 30th, the decision was made to inscribe the culture of Jeju haenyeo (women divers) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The culture of Jeju haenyeo refers to all tangible and intangible cultural heritage arising from their way of life and diving, including folk knowledge about catching seafood, religion, songs, working tools and clothing as well as communal practices.
Haenyeo are symbols of strong women in Jeju. They swam against harsh currents without any equipment to make a living for their families. They earned their recognition among the heritage of humanity for the value they represent. However, the continued decline in their numbers means that the culture of the haenyeo community in Jeju could be lost forever. Let's take a look at the past and present of the haenyeo of Jeju.

