Youngrak-ri Village on Jeju Island, South Korea, now has a haenyeo unlike any other. Kylie Genter has become the only foreign resident to hold a license as a traditional haenyeo diver.
Haenyeo are female divers from Jeju who gather seafood by free-diving without any breathing equipment. This tradition has been part of life in Jeju for hundreds of years.
Genter, a 36-year-old American, began diving in Youngrak-ri in January 2024. Before that, she had initially been turned away because of her status as a foreigner.
Initially Rejected, Then Given a Chance
According to CNN, her opportunity came when the Youngrak-ri haenyeo community began looking for new members. Genter’s husband, a scuba diver himself, put his wife’s name forward, but the request was initially declined.
A month later, the rules were relaxed, and Genter was given the opportunity to interview. She was ultimately accepted and continued diving until she earned her official haenyeo license.
“I don’t think I’m paving a way. As a foreigner doing this, especially since I’m not a Korean citizen, this is a huge responsibility,” Genter said.
Earning the Trust of Senior Haenyeo
Genter has also earned the trust of the senior haenyeo in her community. Hong Bok-nyeo, President of the Youngrak-ri Haenyeo Community, even described Genter as being like her own daughter.
“She’s even better than us, Koreans and native Jeju people, at diving. I really like her,” Hong said.
A Bright Spot Amid a Regeneration Crisis
Genter’s presence has brought fresh energy to the haenyeo tradition, which has been struggling with generational succession. Of the 2,371 active haenyeo recorded last year, roughly 63% were aged 70 or older.
Only about 30 people, or 1%, were 39 years old or younger. On the flip side, Genter’s presence has also helped put the village on the map for tourists.
Kim Chang-sik, head of fisheries in Youngrak-ri, said many people now come to see and interview the American haenyeo.
“Our village has the first American haenyeo, so a lot of people come here just to interview her!” Kim said.
Climate Change Is Making the Job Harder
These days, however, haenyeo are facing a growing threat from climate change. Rising sea temperatures have caused seaweed and seafood populations around Youngrak-ri to steadily decline.
Kim said that just a few years ago, haenyeo could still catch more than 100 kilograms of sea cucumber in a single day. This year, they’ve only managed to find around 10 sea cucumbers in total.
“High sea temperatures have caused a lot of the seaweed to disappear. We need seaweed so that shellfish come to feed on it. The shellfish aren’t coming because the water is too warm,” Kim explained.
This has made it increasingly difficult to rely on haenyeo diving as a source of income. Even so, Genter has chosen to stay, helping introduce the tradition to a wider audience through social media and podcasts.
“This is a lifelong commitment. I’ll live in this village, and I’ll die in this village. If you’re ready to do that, then give it a try,” Genter said firmly.
