Cultural Elements
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Haenyeos work in teams of five-six divers, are supposed to stay together, keep an eye on the tides, and help any diver who may get tangled in seaweed. They emit a whistling sound when they resurface, as a way of communicating and keeping track of each other. Each diver has lead weights to help them stay at the bottom of the seabed, and each is attached to a tewak, a round floatation device with a net hanging beneath it to collect their harvest. Haenyeos wear gloves and use special tools to collect conch and other sea creatures.
Bulteok – bul means fire, teok means space - is a shelter for Haenyeo, a very specific place only for them. Before the advent of the wetsuit, Haenyeo wore simple cotton outfits while diving, and gathered around the fire to warm up. A bulteok is made of stones and is conveniently located near the diving areas. In the bulteok, the Haenyeo gather before diving, change their clothes, exchange information, make decisions, train new divers, and rest.
Haenyeos have created their own specific culture, including original songs that are performed while rowing, others while swimming, and even others while catching or carrying fish, traditions that they take with them when they travel to the Korean peninsula or other countries. These songs emphasize their pride in their work and their difficult life on the island. They also perform ritual ceremonies before going diving, and after coming back.
