Times of India, 5.26

If you have seen the K-Drama 'Welcome to Samdal-ri', then the ongoing Jeju Haenyeo Special exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre will take you back to the scenic locations of the drama. The series that focuses on the life of two childhood friends, Cho Yong-pil and Cho Sam-dal, also shows the life of Jeju haenyeo (women divers from Jeju), who harvest a variety of seafood without any apparatus. The exhibition presents the haenyeo seafood harvesting practices, including their tools, social interaction, diving sessions and how they have contributed to their families' livelihoods.

In the show, Go Mi-ja, the mother of the protagonist, is often seen saying that the sea is their life and despite having a heart condition, she continues to dive. Rhythem Deo, a Taekwondo student who came to the exhibition, shares, "All the artwork in the exhibition is exactly what was shown in the K-Drama. Being a haenyeo is a difficult profession as they harvest seafood without any apparatus while controlling their breath."

Haenyeo are female divers whose job is to harvest seafood without any apparatus. "They realized that the sea is to be tendered and
preserved, instead of being mass harvested. Oxygen tanks are not allowed, as modern facilities would lead to rapid over-exploitation of
the seabed. Living in harmony with nature's assets, powers and essence is a guiding principle in Haenyeo culture," the exhibition explains.

"I got to know about the haenyeo culture after watching the K-Drama. When I got to know that there was an exhibition showcasing their life, I came to see it. It took me back to all the scenes from the show." said Smita Singh, who visited the exhibition recently.