Gosan Fishing Community Chagwido Haenyeo Folk Song Preservation Society 고산어촌계 차귀도 해녀소리보존회 / Republic of Korea

Following the inscription of Jeju Haenyeo culture on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, the culture of Jeju’s haenyeo (female divers) has been expanding its presence worldwide. The Chagwido Haenyeo Folk Song Preservation Society, composed entirely of active haenyeo, was established on April 16, 2018, and has played a significant role in promoting Jeju Haenyeo culture through over 30 performances, including appearances at events such as the Haenyeo Festival, the FPC Premium Seafood Festival, the Weepung Dangdang Festival, the Jeju Global Geopark Suwolbong Trail, and the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival. In September 2018, they collaborated with the Northstar Optimist Alumni Band, known for its outstanding ensemble work, during the Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest in Canada, and their joint performance was broadcast on the local Canadian station CTN News Kitchener, sparking great interest and enthusiasm for the haenyeo culture among the local audience. The group has also performed at the Korean Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival on September 27, 2021, a special performance organized by the Jeju Cultural Foundation in August 2022, a special Haenyeo Culture performance at the National Gugak Center in Seoul in July 2023, a special performance at the Haeundae Cultural Center in Busan in 2024, and an invited performance at the Korean Cultural Center in France scheduled for 2025. Currently consisting of 21 members, the society is dedicated to promoting, preserving, and recreating not only Jeju’s haenyeo culture but also broader Jeju folk traditions, striving to create cultural experiences unique to the island.