SEOUL, July 4 (Korea Bizwire) – Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University, in collaboration with fashion company Lakai Korea, has released a multilingual video celebrating the contributions of Jeju Island’s female divers to the defense of the Dokdo Islands, he announced on July 4.
The four-minute video, titled “The Unsung Heroes of Dokdo: Jeju’s Haenyeo,” has been produced in both Korean and English and is being shared across various social media platforms, including YouTube, to reach a global audience.
The video highlights how the seaweed harvested by these divers, known as haenyeo, became emergency rations for those stationed on Dokdo. It also reveals that the proceeds from selling this seaweed were used to fund the island’s defense efforts.
Beyond their economic contributions, the video sheds light on the haenyeo’s crucial role in Korea’s effective control of the disputed islands. These women assisted in constructing facilities for permanent residence on Dokdo and even recovered the bodies of coast guard members who died in the line of duty.
Na Young-seok, a renowned Korean television producer, lent his voice for the Korean narration. “I’m honored to introduce the activities of Jeju’s haenyeo on Dokdo through my voice,” Na said, expressing hope that the video would reach a wide audience both domestically and internationally.
A Jeju haenyeo holds a Dokdo sea lion (Gangchi). The Dokdo sea lion, which once lived in large numbers on the island, was hunted to extinction during the Japanese occupation. (Image provided by Professor Seo Kyoung-duk)
Seo, who spearheaded the project, said, “We wanted to widely introduce lesser-known stories about Dokdo to both domestic and international audiences.” He added that the video is being disseminated through YouTube and various social media platforms, with a particular focus on sharing it with major Korean and international student communities worldwide.
This initiative is part of an ongoing effort by Lakai Korea and Seo to produce multilingual videos about little-known historical events related to Dokdo.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
