Many of the island’s women sea divers are elderly, and that increases the risks they face while working. In response to the increasing number of aged haenyeo who are dying on the job, the province is trying to help them retire earlier. Joseph Kim reports.

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72 haenyeo have died while working over last 10 years

Over the last ten years, 72 haenyeo have died at sea while working.

This means, seven deaths per year on average.
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85 percent of the deceased were over 70 years of age.
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Deaths caused by chronic illness, fatigue

Chronic illness including high blood pressure and fatigue are the causes of the deaths at sea.

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60% of haenyeo 70+ years-old

Among 3,985 haenyeo living in Jeju, 2,386 or 60 percent of them are over 70 years old.

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Province helping older women retire early.

To prevent sudden death, the province is helping elderly woman divers retire earlier.

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Before this year, 200,000 won or less was provided to retired haenyeo every month based on age.

Meanwhile, beginning this year a 300,000 won monthly allowance is given to every haenyeo aged 80 or more for three years after retirement.
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Enforcement regulations will soon define specific criteria for the provision of the retirement pension.

INTERVIEW
Yang Hong-shik / Provincial department of haenyeo affairs
We have introduced the haenyeo retirement pension to prevent accidents at sea, which have spiked recently.
[인터뷰 양홍식 / 제주도 해녀문화유산과 해녀정책팀장 ]
"최근에 해녀분들이 물질 작업중 안전사고가 빈번하게 일어나고 있기 때문에 그것을 예방하고자 은퇴수당을 도입하게됐습니다."

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More support for young women divers

The province will also expand subsidies for young haenyeo's settlement.

Before this year, the subsidy was only given to graduates of hanyeo training schools.

Beginning this year, graduation from the schools are not required for the subsidy.

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‘Retirement pension inadequate’

Some say the retirement pension is not big enough to encourage the professional divers to give up their job earlier.

[Reporter] Joseph Kim
[Camera] Ko Moon-su

The island is watching how effective the police will be in terms of prevention of death.

Joseph Kim, KCTV