Haenyeo Museum

Own work · CC BY-SA 3.0

A museum to the women who dive without air tanks — a trade fading with its last generation.

Haenyeo are the Jeju women who dive ten metres down, holding their breath for two minutes, to gather abalone and sea cucumber — no tanks, no modern gear, only a net float and an iron hook. The trade once fed the whole island and inverted the order of the household: the wife went to sea for the money, the husband minded the children. The museum shows the cotton diving suits of earlier years, tewak floats made from dried gourds, and filmed interviews. The quietest thing in the building is the age chart: most working haenyeo today are over seventy.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Haenyeo Museum?

Year-round

How much does it cost to visit Haenyeo Museum?

1,100 KRW (500 for ages 13–24; free under 12)

How long do you need at Haenyeo Museum?

1.5 hours

What are the opening hours of Haenyeo Museum?

09:00–18:00, closed Mondays

Did you know

Haenyeo culture was inscribed on UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2016.
Haenyeo dive to about 10m and hold their breath around two minutes at a time.
Most working haenyeo today are over seventy years old.
The museum stands in Hado-ri, one of the oldest haenyeo villages.

Travel tips

Check the schedule for live haenyeo diving demonstrations at nearby landings.
Combine it with Udo island, where many haenyeo still work.
The museum closes on Mondays.

Source: https://www.much.go.kr/cooperation/net/haen.do

Updated: 2026-08-04