The culture of haenyeo, women divers on the island of Jeju, has been included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Long before the listing, director Koh Hee-young was interested in the diving fisherwomen, who hold their breaths throughout their dive to gather various marine products. The director stayed on an island where many haenyeo resided for seven long years to produce a documentary “Breathing Underwater.” The film sheds light on the everyday life of haenyeo, from happy moments to their saddest times, as well as their unique community culture.

The director herself has her own sad story about why she became interested in haenyeo. In the process of filming the documentary, she learned one important lesson. Through her documentary, she hopes to share the stories of haenyeo and the valuable lesson with the public.