I moved to South Korea with no long-term plan. After 4 years of teaching, I've built an unconventional life on an island.

Kylie Genter, a 37-year-old woman from New York, moved to South Korea to teach English without any long-term plans. It was during her time there that she became fascinated with the Haenyeo, female freedivers who harvest seafood using traditional methods. After completing diving lessons, Genter moved to Jeju Island in 2018 to pursue this unconventional career path.

After two years of training, she earned her Haenyeo license in April 2024. Genter spends around five days a week diving with women in their 70s and 80s, finding fulfillment in their generational knowledge of the sea. Although her diving job is not full-time, it provides her with a unique perspective and financial stability, allowing her to balance her career with other interests such as running a pet hotel and tutoring.