Jeju's haenyeo bring lifetime of diving stories to comedy stage
SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — “Dragon King!” chanted three haenyeo standing shoulder to shoulder on stage, with long ceremonial sleeves dangling from their arms. Their mission: to advise a child in the audience who did not want to study. Taking turns, they pieced together an impromptu answer as laughter filled the community center in Youngrak-ri, part of Jeju's southern city of Seogwipo on Oct. 14.…
Seogwipo, Jeju Island — Three haenyeo stood side by side on stage, chanting "Dragon King!" with long ceremonial sleeves flowing from their arms. Their objective: to provide a humorous response for a child in the audience who was hesitant to study. Taking turns, the haenyeo crafted a spontaneous answer, eliciting laughter throughout the community center in Youngrak-ri, an area of southern Seogwipo City on Jeju Island on October 14.
Organized by the Jeju Comedy Club with assistance from the Jeju Foundation for Arts and Culture, "Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk" transformed five haenyeo from the village into performers for the evening. Ranging from an 88-year-old experienced diver to more recent practitioners, the haenyeo took the stage as entertainers before an audience of approximately 100 people, comprising local residents and visitors from abroad.
Hanging above the stage was a large photo of the village's bulteok, the rocky seaside area where haenyeo, Jeju's female divers, traditionally gathered to warm up and relax after their long days at sea. The inspiration for the comedy show originated from haenyeo Choi Jung-yoon, a former stand-up comedian and one of the featured performers.
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- Jeju's haenyeo bring lifetime of diving stories to comedy stage koreatimes.co.kr
