The sea is dangerous, but for some young South Korean women, escaping the rat race means diving into the deep end

Gyeongju, South Korea, September 10 — Jin So-hee joined the centuries-old tradition of South Korean women divers, known as haenyeo, after enduring the demands of the bustling work culture in her home city. The rapid economic transformation of South Korea has driven workers away from haenyeo, who harvest seafood without oxygen tanks, but the country's relentless work ethic is now drawing some women back to this physically punishing profession.

Jin, 33, left a career in skincare and nail art and a nursing assistant job to become a haenyeo in Geoje, a coastal town in South Korea. She faced severe physical challenges, including weight loss and ear pain, but remained determined to continue. Jin and fellow haenyeo, Woo Jung-min, have been working to document the lives of young haenyeo, like themselves, through YouTube videos to preserve the tradition for future generations.

However, the tradition is facing challenges from a changing marine environment, with warming waters reducing catches and making the profession more dangerous. Despite the hardships, haenyeo continue to find beauty in the sea, but climate change threatens to erase that beauty in the years to come.