The Feminist Role of Haenyeos of Jeju Island:

Survival and Empowerment

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of the Haenyeos, the women divers of Jeju Island, South Korea, in their employment of feminism. Historically, Haenyeos redefined gender roles by becoming household providers out of the need to survive. Then they created cooperatives to defend their rights, later using those structures to lead resistance against Japanese colonial exploitation. These actions challenged both patriarchal and colonial structures, positioning them as early leaders of feminist change. In the present, Haenyeos embody ecofeminist principles through sustainable harvesting and communal democracy and persist despite declining population of their community and environmental threats, framing their work as both survival and a prideful responsibility. Based on extensive secondary literature review and semi-structured in-depth interviews with Haenyeos, this paper argues that their impact is based on economic empowerment, political resistance, and ecological activism, all grounded in a mindset of resilience and unity. The Haenyeos hence portray a value that remains vital for feminism in South Korea and for global discussions of gender and sustainability.