I was starting the short story “So That They Do Not Hear Us” earlier today and I realized that Ahrim’s profession as a “Sea Woman” or haenyeo was something I had read about a couple years ago. There were a number of articles written around 2014 – 2016 about the tradition of haenyeo on the island of Jeju, where women would basically be the breadwinners for their families by free-diving into the ocean. It’s pretty dangerous, as is highlighted in the short story, and yet many women love it and can’t imagine their lives without it. However, it’s a culture that is dying out as many younger generations are choosing not to go diving. Here are a few links to some articles I found if you want to know more:
https://www.ft.com/content/e1ec5434-50f8-11e5-b029-b9d50a74fd14
