Lesson 4 This is Korea
Haenyeo, Female Divers of Korea
For the past several years, the underwater photographer Zin ____ has promoted the culture of Jeju haenyeo worldwide.
Haenyeo are Korean female divers who harvest seafood without any breathing ____
Their culture made UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural ____ list in 2016.
At her studio ____ week, Zin Kim was interviewed about her experience of taking pictures of haenyeo.
Q. How did you become interested in taking photos of haenyeo?
One ____ I happened to take pictures of a haenyeo.
I was surprised to find that she was ____ her job.
Until then, I had only seen black-and-white photos of ____ who looked very tired.
However, she kept laughing even after she had been in the water for over ____ hours.
I realized then ____ I should take pictures of haenyeo.
Q. You take beautiful pictures of them, but isn’t it difficult to take pictures of haenyeo?
At first, they didn’t understand why I ____ to take their pictures.
They didn’t think they looked pretty in ____ wetsuits.
I said to them, “You’re ____ special.
I want to show your culture to ____ world.”
They opened up ____ me then.
Of course, I also promised them that I would make them look beautiful in ____ pictures.
Q. Could you tell us more about haenyeo?
What’s so ____ about them?
I can tell ____ three things.
First, haenyeo are ____ symbol of strong women.
____ which is a volcanic island, is not suitable for farming, so many haenyeo have become the breadwinners for their families.
Second, haenyeo form their own communities ____ help each other.
For example, ____ haenyeo train less-experienced haenyeo.
Third, because they stay ____ the water without any breathing devices, haenyeo can’t catch a lot of seafood.
This is good for ____ underwater environment.
Catching too much marine life at one time in one place ____ destroy the ocean.
Q. Lastly, please tell us what you’re planning to do in the future.
I once attended an overseas exhibition with a couple of haenyeo to ____ a talk about their lives.
____ I finished my talk, one of the haenyeo held my hand tightly.
She said to me, “Thank you so much. I’ve never known ____ my whole life that I was such a special person.”
____ was crying with happiness.
____ in the audience was deeply moved.
I can never forget that moment, so I’ll continue to take pictures of ____
I want to tell more beautiful stories about them to many more ____ in the world.