Episode Information

The phenomenally resilient sea women of Marado Island, at the southernmost tip of South Korea, are like no one else on the planet. They may stumble walking on land, but underwater, they are transformed into graceful swimmers. These are Korea’s traditional Haenyeo: female divers who hold their breath for more than two minutes, to depths of up to 20 meters and make their livelihood combing the seabed for culinary treasures for restaurants in Korea and Japan. Once widespread across the Jeju Island, Haenyeo numbers have declined to a handful of old-timers. But youth is no advantage here. Haenyeo peak in their 50s when they’ve how to read the currents and stay calm in stormy waters. In ‘The Last Mermaids of Korea’ will discover the daily lives of the Haenyeo throughout the year from the depths of winter through spring, summer and autumn, and explore their extraordinary history.