Jeju's haenyeo bring lifetime of diving stories to comedy stage

SEOGWIPO, Jeju Island — “Dragon King!” chanted three haenyeo standing shoulder to shoulder on stage, with long ceremonial sleeves dangling from their arms. Their mission: to advise a child in the audience who did not want to study. Taking turns, they pieced together an impromptu answer as laughter filled the community center in Youngrak-ri, part of Jeju's southern city of Seogwipo on Oct. 14. Presented by Jeju Comedy Club with support from the Jeju Foundation for Arts and Culture, “Utseum Geolgung: Land Folk vs. Sea Folk” turned five haenyeo from the village into comedians for the night. From an 88-year-old veteran to younger divers, the haenyeo took the stage as performers before an audience of around 100 people, including neighbors and overseas visitors. Behind the stage hung an enlarged photograph of the village’s "bulteok," the rocky seaside gathering place where haenyeo, Jeju’s women divers, traditionally warmed themselves and rested after work. Hard lives, enduring humor The idea for the comedy show came from haenyeo Choi Jung-yoon, a former standup comedian and one of