Building an Unconventional Career as a Haenyeo Diver in South Korea
Kylie Genter shares her journey from English teacher to traditional Jeju Island diver.
1Unplanned Career Beginnings
Kylie Genter graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2012 with a communications degree but lacked a specific career path. Seeking change, she moved to Jinju, South Korea, just four months after graduation to teach English. This initial decision provided housing and stability, eventually leading her to settle in the country permanently.
2Discovering the Haenyeo Tradition
After four years of teaching, Genter became fascinated by the Haenyeo, female freedivers who harvest seafood without modern breathing equipment. In 2018, she began formal diving lessons. Her husband, a local scuba diver, later identified a recruitment opportunity in a small village on the southwestern side of Jeju Island.
3Rigorous Licensing Requirements
Earning a Haenyeo license required a two-year commitment involving specific performance metrics. Genter had to complete 50 days of diving within a single year and generate 1.2 million South Korean won, approximately $884, in seafood sales. Success also necessitated a unanimous vote from the existing collective of veteran divers.
4Physical Demands and Integration
The work is physically taxing, requiring Genter to maintain peak fitness to assist older divers in their 70s and 80s. She often handles heavy nets and manual chores. Health issues like sinus congestion directly impact her ability to equalize underwater, making physical maintenance a mandatory part of her daily professional routine.
5Operational Workflow and Earnings
Diving occurs roughly five days a week, depending on ocean conditions. The collective pools their catch, which is sold to a regional fishing cooperative. Earnings are distributed by the village president. Genter earns approximately $2,000 annually from diving, noting that teaching remains a significantly more stable source of personal income.
6Portfolio Career and Flexibility
Genter maintains a diverse income stream beyond diving, including operating a pet hotel and providing tutoring services. This unconventional structure offers high flexibility, allowing her to set her own schedule without requesting time off. She balances these various roles to sustain her life on the island while pursuing professional autonomy.
7Psychological Benefits of Diving
Underwater work provides a meditative escape from digital distractions and constant connectivity. Because she cannot use a phone while diving, the activity offers a unique mental break. Genter finds that the focus required for harvesting seafood creates a sense of calm, contrasting sharply with the pressures of traditional office-based employment.
8Long-term Commitment to Jeju
After transitioning from a standard teaching role to a traditional maritime profession, Genter views her future as permanently tied to her village. Her journey highlights the potential for expatriates to integrate into niche local industries. She remains dedicated to preserving the Haenyeo tradition while navigating the realities of modern island life.