“[Jeju = Newsis] Reporter Im Jae-young = Jeju Island announced on the 19th that it will hold the ‘Haenyeo Gut,’ a ritual praying for the safety and bountiful catch of the haenyeo (female divers), starting from the Sinrye-ri fishing community in Namwon-eup, Seogwipo City on the 21st, and continuing in 38 fishing communities across the island until April.
The Haenyeo Gut is a cultural heritage that embodies the communal spirit and marine beliefs of Jeju’s haenyeo, who have depended on each other while living in harsh ocean conditions.
It goes by various names such as Yongwang Gut, Yeongdeung Gut, Haesinje, and Sushinje, and is conducted by each village’s fishing community from the beginning of the lunar January to March for about two months along the coast.
The Yeongdeung Gut is a representative Haenyeo Gut and is a folk ritual to welcome and send off Yeongdeungshin, the deity of prosperity. According to local folklore, the wind deity Yeongdeungshin visits Jeju on the first day of the lunar February each year, spreads the seeds of grains and marine products, and returns to her hometown through Udo on the full moon.
Jeju Island provides financial support for the ritual expenses to the 38 fishing communities that perform the Haenyeo Gut. Starting this year, the subsidy rate has been increased from the previous 50% to 70%, reducing the economic burden on the village fishing communities.”