Jeju's haenyeo bring lifetime of diving stories to comedy stage

Five haenyeo from Youngrak-ri in Seogwipo turned village stories into improvised comedy at a community center on Oct. 14. The performance, “Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk,” connected the divers’ humor and life experiences with the communal tradition of geolgung. Workshops helped veteran and younger divers share unscripted stories onstage, while organizers hope to develop performances into a village brand.

The performance drew around 100 people, including local residents and overseas visitors, and featured haenyeo ranging from an 88-year-old veteran to younger divers.

Fishery chief Kim Chang-sik linked the project to geolgung, a communal performance tradition in which musicians traveled through villages to unite residents through entertainment.

Youngrak-ri has around 600 residents, and its haenyeo community had eight veteran divers when Choi Jung-yoon joined early last year; four have since retired.

Jeju Haenyeo Museum recorded 43,838 foreign visitors through Aug. 23, a 73 percent increase from the previous year, according to the provincial government.

Another free performance of “Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk” was scheduled for Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

Published Oct 19, 2026 12:01 pm KST

Updated Oct 19, 2026 12:11 pm KST

Veteran and younger women divers bring their lives at sea to improv comedy stage

Haenyeo, comedians and village members pose before the improv comedy show "Utseum Geulgung" in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Oct 9. Courtesy of Jeju Comedy Club

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.

Presented by Jeju Comedy Club with support from the Jeju Foundation for Arts and Culture, “Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk” turned five haenyeo from the village into comedians for the night. From an 88-year-old veteran to younger divers, the haenyeo took the stage as performers before an audience of around 100 people, including neighbors and overseas visitors.

Behind the stage hung an enlarged photograph of the village’s "bulteok," the rocky seaside gathering place where haenyeo, Jeju’s women divers, traditionally warmed themselves and rested after work.

Haenyeo and comedians perform improv comedy show at Youngrak-ri's village center in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

Hard lives, enduring humor

The idea for the comedy show came from haenyeo Choi Jung-yoon, a former standup comedian and one of the younger divers who began diving two years ago. She said she wanted to make something out of her fellow veteran divers who have a great sense of humor despite decades of hardship.

“Through Jeju’s turbulent history, these women divers worked so hard to earn money and support their families. Yet they are so humorous,” she told The Korea Times after the show. “That always impressed me.”

For Choi, their ability to approach life with humor was as inspiring as their resilience.

“After such a difficult life, you could become bitter and nasty,” she said. “But they showed me that you can live a life full of humor instead.”

A poster for "Utseum Geolgung," an improv comedy show staged by Youngrak-ri's haenyeo in Jeju / Courtesy of Jeju Comedy Club

Village fishery chief Kim Chang-sik, 70, helped organize the performance by connecting Choi's idea to geolgung, a communal performance tradition in which musicians traveled through villages, bringing residents together through music and entertainment.

A couple of workshops with professional improv comedian Hellena Jang and members of Jeju Comedy Club helped the divers become comfortable with comedy performance on stage.

Participants didn't need to prepare polished routines in advance for the performance. Just a few shared rules and a willingness to play and share their stories were enough.

After tales of underwater encounters with dolphins had the audience laughing on stage, a 70-year-old veteran haenyeo Jwa Bok-hee spoke of her longing for a life unburdened by the hardships she has known. Asked what she had wanted to be other than a haenyeo when she was young, one veteran haenyeo gave an unexpected answer: a bird.

“I wouldn’t want to be human again. Life as a human has been so hard. I’d like to fly around the world, eat delicious food and live that way.”

Residents and visitors watch an improv comedy show at Youngrak-ri's village center in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

Small community, changing together

Home to around 600 residents, Youngrak-ri offers one portrait of the haenyeo community, not a template for the whole island.

Jeju's 103 fishing communities differ in membership, rules, resources and catches, Choi explained. Youngrak-ri had eight veteran divers when she joined early last year; four have since retired. Its small size, however, allows an intimacy that larger groups may not share.

After diving, the women prepare simple meals with garden vegetables and eat together, scooping rice from a shared serving.

“Not every haenyeo village eats together like this,” Choi said. “We can because we are so small.”

In this undated photo, Youngrak-ri haenyeo pose near village waters before diving in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. Courtesy of Choi Jung-yoon

Hong Bok-nyeo, the village’s 80-year-old haenyeo president who took part in the show, has been diving for 63 years. Taking the stage was unfamiliar territory for Hong and her fellow veterans, but they put their trust in their younger colleagues and joined the show.

Among the unusual performers was Kylie Genter, an American who joined the village's diving community in 2024, later becoming one of Jeju’s few non-Korean haenyeo. Moving easily between Korean and Jeju dialect, Genter traded improvised lines with her fellow divers, bringing the rapport they had built at sea onto the stage.

Even for Genter, who regularly dives alongside the veterans, the unscripted exchange revealed something new. “A lot of times they don’t talk about their ambitions when they were young,” she said. The story was “very surprising to us and very moving.”

For Genter, the achievement was not a polished comic performance but the experience of sharing the stage. “It was satisfying that we could do it together,” she said.

Asked about Choi and Genter, the haenyeo president called them “first-rate haenyeo,” praising their diving and thoughtfulness.

“Just seeing them makes me smile,” Hong said. “They make me feel younger.”

From left, haenyeo Choi Jung-yoon and Kylie Genter perform improv comedy show at Youngrak-ri's village center in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Lee Hae-rin

Hong has every confidence in Choi and Genter as haenyeo. Her worry is not their ability or commitment, but whether the sea will sustain them through a lifetime of diving.

Haenyeo harvest shellfish and other seafood while holding their breath without diving gear. Their culture received UNESCO recognition in 2016, marking this year its 10th anniversary. However, aging divers, fewer recruits and declining marine resources due to rising water temperature threaten its continuity.

“There has to be something to catch,” Hong said. “They cannot live just doing what we did yesterday.”

Fishery chief Kim sees younger divers’ initiatives as a source of village vitality.

“It (The comedy show) makes residents and visitors happy, and brings more energy to the village,” he said.

Haenyeo and comedians who performed an improv comedy show "Utseum Geulgung" pose with their families after the show at the village center in Seogwipo, Jeju, Oct. 14. Courtesy of Jeju Comedy Club

New audiences, new possibilities

While haenyeo's livelihoods remain uncertain, public interest is growing. Jeju Haenyeo Museum recorded 43,838 foreign visitors this year through Aug. 23, up 73 percent from a year earlier, according to the provincial government.

For Colorado visitors Bennett Parnes and Betty Mitchell, who were on their first trip to Korea, the comedy show offered a glimpse of a community sustained by mutual support.

“We felt honored to get invited here for this, and become part of this,” they said.

What struck them was the divers’ concern for one another’s safety and the active role older women continued to play.

“It seems so communal that they support each other,” they said. “In our culture, elderly slow down and aren’t doing much, but here they’re way more active.”

Youngrak-ri haenyeo in their diving gear before their work in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Oct. 27, 2025 / Courtesy of Choi Jung-yoon

Choi hopes to develop more performances around the village’s stories.

“Visitors could come not only to meet the haenyeo, but also to watch improv performances inspired by their stories," she said. "I’d like to develop that into a village brand. We have a sea of stories to tell.”

Another free show of “Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk” is scheduled for Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

10月14日，来自西归浦永乐里的五位海女在社区中心将村里的故事即兴改编成了喜剧表演。这场名为“陆海大战海女”的演出，将海女们的幽默感和生活经历与海女的传统技艺——海女跳水——巧妙地融合在一起。工作坊帮助经验丰富的海女和年轻的海女们在舞台上分享即兴故事，组织者希望将这种表演形式发展成为村庄的特色。

这场表演吸引了约 100 名观众，包括当地居民和海外游客，表演者中有 88 岁的老海女，也有年轻的潜水员。

渔业部长金昌植将该项目与“地宫”联系起来。“地宫”是一种集体表演传统，音乐家们走遍各个村庄，通过娱乐活动将居民团结起来。

永乐里约有 600 位居民，去年年初崔正允加入海女社群时，该社群有 8 位资深潜水员；此后 4 位退休。

据济州岛政府统计，截至8月23日，济州海女博物馆接待外国游客43838人次，比上年同期增长73%。

另一场免费演出“Utseum Geolgung：陆地民族 vs. 海洋民族”定于10月21日晚上7点举行。

发布于2026年10月19日下午12:01（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月19日下午12:11（韩国标准时间）

资深和年轻的女潜水员将她们的海上生活搬上了即兴喜剧舞台。

10月9日，在济州岛西归浦市，海女、喜剧演员和村民在即兴喜剧表演“Utseum Geulgung”前合影。图片由济州喜剧俱乐部提供。

济州岛西古浦——“龙王！”三位海女肩并肩站在台上，长长的礼服袖子从手臂垂下，她们高声呼喊着。她们的任务是：劝导一位不愿学习的观众席上的孩子。

10 月 14 日，在济州岛南部西归浦市永乐里社区中心，人们轮流即兴回答问题，笑声充满了整个社区。

由济州喜剧俱乐部主办，济州艺术文化财团协办的“海洋岩宫：陆地居民 vs. 海洋居民”活动，让来自该村的五位海女一夜化身喜剧演员。从88岁高龄的老海女到年轻的潜水员，她们轮番登台，为包括村民和海外游客在内的约100名观众带来了精彩的表演。

舞台后面挂着一张放大的照片，照片上是村里的“海滩”，这是海边岩石聚集地，济州岛的海女们在工作后会在这里取暖和休息。

10月14日，在济州岛西归浦市永乐里村中心，海女和喜剧演员们表演即兴喜剧。韩国时报 李海琳摄

艰辛的生活，经久不衰的幽默

这个喜剧节目的创意来自海女崔正允，她曾是一名脱口秀演员，也是两年前开始潜水的年轻潜水员之一。她说，她想为那些尽管经历了数十年的艰辛，却依然保持着幽默感的资深潜水员们做些事情。

“济州岛历史动荡，这些女潜水员为了赚钱养家糊口付出了巨大的努力。但她们却如此幽默，”她在节目结束后告诉《韩国时报》，“这一点一直让我印象深刻。”

在崔看来，他们以幽默的态度面对生活的能力和他们的韧性一样令人鼓舞。

“经历了如此艰难的人生，人很容易变得愤世嫉俗、心怀怨恨，”她说。“但他们让我明白，人也可以拥有充满幽默感的人生。”

济州岛Youngrak-ri海女剧团即兴喜剧表演“Utseum Geolgung”的海报 / 图片由济州喜剧俱乐部提供

70岁的村渔业负责人金昌植帮助组织了这场演出，他将崔的想法与“歌宫”联系起来。“歌宫”是一种集体表演传统，音乐家们走遍各个村庄，通过音乐和娱乐将居民们聚集在一起。

与专业即兴喜剧演员 Hellena Jang 和济州喜剧俱乐部的成员一起参加的几次研讨会，帮助潜水员们适应了在舞台上进行喜剧表演。

参与者无需提前准备精心编排的表演流程。只需遵守几条共同的规则，并乐于参与游戏、分享彼此的故事即可。

在讲述与海豚水下邂逅的故事逗得台上观众哈哈大笑之后，一位70岁的资深海女赵福熙（Jwa Bok-hee）讲述了她渴望摆脱过往艰辛生活的愿望。当被问及年轻时除了海女之外还想成为什么时，一位资深海女给出了一个出人意料的答案：一只鸟。

“我不想再做人了。做人太难了。我想环游世界，品尝美食，过那样的生活。”

10月14日，济州岛西归浦市永乐里村中心，居民和游客观看即兴喜剧表演。（韩国时报 李海琳 摄）

小社区，共同改变

永乐里约有 600 位居民，它展现了海女群体的一面，但并不能代表整个岛屿的情况。

崔女士解释说，济州岛的103个渔业社区在成员构成、规则、资源和渔获量方面各不相同。去年年初她加入永乐里社区时，那里有八位经验丰富的潜水员；如今已有四位退休。然而，社区规模较小，也因此拥有大型社区可能不具备的亲密氛围。

潜水结束后，妇女们用花园里的蔬菜准备简单的饭菜，一起吃饭，从公用的碗里舀米饭。

“并不是每个海女村都像这样一起吃饭，”崔女士说。“我们之所以能这样做，是因为我们村子很小。”

这张未注明日期的照片中，海女Youngrak-ri在济州岛西归浦村附近的水域潜水前摆姿势拍照。照片由崔正允提供。

参加演出的村海女会长洪福女今年80岁，她跳水已有63年。对洪福女和她的老同事们来说，登上舞台是一个陌生的领域，但她们信任年轻的同事，加入了演出。

这些表演者中不乏一些特别之处，其中一位是凯莉·根特，她是一位美国人，于2024年加入济州岛的潜水社群，后来成为济州岛为数不多的非韩裔海女之一。根特能流利地切换韩语和济州方言，与她的潜水伙伴们即兴发挥，将她们在海上建立的默契带到了舞台上。

即使是经常与老队员们一起潜水的根特，这次即兴的交流也让她耳目一新。“他们很少谈起年轻时的梦想，”她说。这个故事“让我们非常惊讶，也非常感动”。

对根特而言，最大的成就并非一场精湛的喜剧表演，而是与他人同台演出的经历。“我们能够一起完成这件事，这让我感到非常满足，”她说。

当被问及崔和根特时，海女会长称她们为“一流的海女”，称赞她们的潜水技术和体贴周到。

“看到他们我就心情愉悦，”洪说。“他们让我感觉自己年轻了不少。”

10月14日，在济州岛西归浦市永乐里村中心，海女崔正允（左）和凯莉·根特（Kylie Genter）正在表演即兴喜剧。韩国时报 李海琳摄

洪对崔和根特作为海女的能力充满信心。她担心的不是她们的能力或决心，而是大海是否能够支撑她们一生潜水生涯。

海女不用潜水装备，屏住呼吸捕捞贝类和其他海鲜。她们的文化于2016年获得联合国教科文组织认可，今年是其文化传承十周年。然而，潜水员老龄化、新成员减少以及水温上升导致海洋资源日益枯竭，都威胁着海女文化的延续。

“总得有点什么可以传染的，”洪说。“他们不能再像我们昨天那样生活下去了。”

渔业主管金认为，年轻潜水员的积极性是村庄活力的源泉。

他说：“（喜剧表演）让居民和游客都感到快乐，也给村庄带来了更多活力。”

10月14日，在济州岛西归浦市村中心，表演即兴喜剧秀“Utseum Geulgung”的海女和喜剧演员们在演出结束后与家人合影。照片由济州喜剧俱乐部提供。

新的受众，新的可能性

尽管海女的生计依然不稳定，但公众对她们的兴趣却日益浓厚。据济州岛政府统计，截至今年8月23日，济州海女博物馆已接待外国游客43838人次，比去年同期增长73%。

对于第一次来韩国的科罗拉多州游客 Bennett Parnes 和 Betty Mitchell 来说，这场喜剧表演让他们得以一窥一个由互助维系的社区。

他们说：“我们很荣幸能受邀来到这里，成为其中的一份子。”

令他们印象深刻的是潜水员们对彼此安全的关心，以及年长女性继续发挥的积极作用。

他们说：“这里的人们互帮互助，看起来非常团结。在我们的文化里，老年人行动迟缓，很少活动，但在这里，他们却活跃得多。”

2025年10月27日，济州岛西归浦，身着潜水服的Youngrak-ri海女准备工作。（图片由崔正允提供）

崔希望围绕村庄的故事创作更多表演。

“游客不仅可以来这里与海女见面，还可以观看根据她们的故事创作的即兴表演，”她说。“我想把这发展成一个村庄的品牌。我们有太多故事要讲。”

另一场免费演出“Utseum Geolgung：陆地民族 vs. 海洋民族”定于10月21日晚上7点举行。