This paper focuses on the case study of Weyeon Island in order to gain a general understanding of the origins and development of the gearless fishery and the haenyo cultures in the island regions of the Western coast. Abalone and sea cucumber are the ...
This paper focuses on the case study of Weyeon Island in order to gain a general understanding of the origins and development of the gearless fishery and the haenyo cultures in the island regions of the Western coast. Abalone and sea cucumber are the main items that are gathered in Weyeon Island as well as in the surrounding islands and ports that include Ho Island, Nok Island, and Jangko Island. The origin of haenyo within these islands dates back to the late 19th century and early 20th century. The haenyo emerged during the Japanese colonial era from the Jejuhaenyo’s outward splashing that was started for the Japanese to plunder Korean water resources.
The ‘haenyo business’ in Weyeon Island rapidly expanded through the massive hiring of haenyo to gather marine products after the Korean War. As word spread that gearless fishery ensures high profits the business continued to grow and at its peak, there were 4-5 haenyo ships in comparison to a mere 1 ship in its beginnings. As a result, when the fishing season began in April of the lunar calendar, tens of haenyo gathered to Weyeon Island to work its waters. So, naturally there were native residents who emerged as the authentic haenyo and the work became a sustainable profession.
In the early 1990s, the fishery activities of the residents of Weyeon Island rapidly reformed to a fishery industry. The privately owned fish farms were ceased by the fishery industry and eventually led to the end of the haenyo ship business that was run by private ship owners. However, the haenyo of Weyeon Island dis not disappear. As the fishing industry absorbed the employment and management of all fishery activities, haenyo were able to actually find greater stability in conducting their affairs. Abalone and sea cucumber fished from Weyeon Island are like geese that lays golden eggs. The profits from the retail of products gathered from the fish farms are distributed evenly within the members of the fishery industry within the island annually. This success is the fruits of the perseverance that they haenyo of the island.