American 'haenyeo' finds her place in Jeju's diving community
For American Kylie Genter, a day at the beach is no longer a day off for sunbathing and swimming. Instead, it is a place where she prays for her safety before diving into the waters to gather abalone and shellfish for living. What others see as a holiday destination has become, to her, a workplace and a landscape of possibilities. Since she began diving as a "haenyo" with fellow women divers in…
Kylie Genter, an American woman, has found a new purpose in Jeju's diving community. No longer does she view a day at the beach as a leisurely activity. Instead, it has become her workplace, where she seeks safety before descending into the ocean to harvest abalone and shellfish for sustenance. Since joining the haenyo diving community in January 2024, Genter's perspective on the sea has transformed.
Upon arriving in Korea as an English teacher in 2012 and later moving to Jeju in 2016, Genter's curiosity about haenyeo led her to enroll in diving school in 2018. She took up the profession after learning that the village of Youngrak was seeking younger divers. Initially, the veterans of the diving community addressed her as "Hey" or "American kid."
However, within this circle, Genter has discovered her role as an additional pair of strong hands. Although she initially struggled to comprehend the local language, she is now committed to her new life at sea.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- American 'haenyeo' finds her place in Jeju's diving community koreatimes.co.kr
