UNESCO is likely to add the culture of Jeju's iconic women sea divers to its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The intangible cultural asset assessment committee has recommended that haenyeo receive the designation. Joseph Kim reports.
Report
Jeju’s Haenyeo spend their whole life at sea.
Following the designation as the first Nationally Important Marine Heritage last year, Jeju’s female sea divers, or haenyeo, is likely to be added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
[slug] Haenyeo culture recommended for List of Intangible Cultural Heritage
According to the Cultural Heritage Administration, UNESCO's assessment committee has recommended that the haenyeo culture receive designation.
It has been two years since the national administration applied for the designation in 2014.
Recording Jeong Eun-seon / Cultural Heritage Administration The intangible cultural asset assessment committee, which consists of six experts and six NGO members, has recommended that haenyeo culture receive the designation. That means it’s very likely that the island’s female sea divers will be added to the UNESCO list. <씽크:정은선/문화재청 세계유산팀> "무형유산 종목을 평가하는 기구가 있습니다. 6명의 전문가와 6명의 NGO 전문가들이 모여서 평가하는데 그 회의에서 등재 권고가 나왔다 하면 최종 회의 때에는 거의 등재가 되는 걸로 보시면 될 것 같습니다."
The committee concluded that haenyeo culture reflects sustainable management of village fisheries and a community spirit. It also includes strong examples of intangible heritage, such as rituals for safety and a good catch. Their songs at work are also highly regarded.
Interview Jwa Hye-gyeong / Jeju Development Institute If UNESCO recognizes the haenyeo culture, the island will be able to better inform the rest of the world about its culture. <인터뷰:좌혜경/제주발전연구원 전문위원> "유네스코에 등재되면 해녀문화가 세계에서 그 문화적 가치를 인정했고 제주의 문화를 세계화할 수 있는 그런 가능성도 있다고 봅니다."
[slug] Province drafting long-term plan to utilize haenyeo culture
The province is drafting medium-and long-term plans to utilize the haenyeo culture to let the world know about the island.
The province is also coming up with plan to encourage people to learn about haenyeo culture and to support female divers.
The island will cooperate with the Cultural Heritage Administration for the scheme.
Interview Lee Gi-u / Provincial government We take haenyeo culture for granted, but outsiders see a lot of unique aspects to it. We will try to turn it into a kind of brand to gain more interest from around the globe. <인터뷰:이기우/제주도 해양산업과장> "우리는 가까이 있으니까 평범하게 생각하지만 세계적으로 볼 때에는 굉장히 특이한 부분인데 이를 브랜드로 만들어서 세계화시키는 노력을 게을리 하지 않겠습니다."
[slug] Final decision at end of November
The final decision will be made at the Eleventh Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
That meeting begins on November 28th in Addis ababa, Ethiopia.
[REPORTER] Joseph Kim [CAMERA] Kim Seung-cheol
If the haenyeo culture is added to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, it will be the island’s third UNESCO heritage designation following the island of Natural Heritage and the Jeju ( 칠머리)Chilmeoridang shamanic rite as an Intangible Cultural Asset.
