FAO selected 100 women from about 600 candidates worldwide; Seong Jeong-hui is the only Korean on the list

Traditional knowledge and community leadership of haenyeo divers earn international recognition

Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

A haenyeo diver from Guryongpo in North Gyeongsang Province who has spent four decades diving and championing the rights of fellow divers has been named one of the world's 100 women leaders in agri-food systems. She is the only Korean among the 100 selected from roughly 600 candidates worldwide.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced Thursday that Seong Jeong-hui, head of the Guryongpo fishing village cooperative and president of the North Gyeongsang Province Haenyeo Association, is the sole Korean included in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's list of "100 Women Talents in Agri-food Systems and Rural Development."

The FAO compiled the list to highlight the leadership and innovative contributions of women who have advanced sustainable rural development, marking the UN-designated 2026 International Year of Women in Agrifood Systems.

Candidates included not only farmers and fishers but also community leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, and representatives from the public sector and civil society. About 600 nominations were submitted by FAO member states, and 100 women were selected after a review process.

Seong has worked as a haenyeo for about 40 years and serves as a leader of her coastal community. In her current roles as head of the Guryongpo fishing village cooperative and president of the North Gyeongsang Province Haenyeo Association, she has worked to improve the welfare and working conditions of fellow divers. She has also been at the forefront of raising awareness about the roles and contributions of women fishers in coastal communities.

The selection is significant as international recognition of the traditional knowledge haenyeo have accumulated over generations at sea and their leadership in sustaining coastal communities. Haenyeo are women fishers who harvest marine products by free diving while maintaining a close relationship with the marine ecosystem.

Seo Jin-hui, director general for international cooperation policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, described haenyeo as "eco-friendly ocean stewards who have protected the sea while preserving its ecological value even as they rely on it for their livelihoods." She said it was "deeply meaningful" that the traditional knowledge and leadership of Korea's haenyeo, built over more than 40 years on the water, had been recognized by the international community, including the UN and the FAO.

She added that the ministry would continue to support the preservation and development of Korea's unique haenyeo fishing heritage.


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