Fukushima water release: South Korea ‘sea women’ fear for their centuries-old trade
- The release of water from the Fukushima nuclear plant is the latest threat faced by the ageing South Korean ‘sea women’, who free-dive to harvest seafood for a living
- South Korea says it respects the IAEA’s approval of Japan’s plan for the water release, with the nuclear agency saying there is ‘negligible’ impact on the environment
“Please help us,” she pleaded. “Please do not discharge.”
Kim, 73, whose mother taught her to dive at age 10, says she and many among her dwindling community in the southern coastal town of Gijang worry that their centuries-old trade will be devastated by the release, expected to run for decades.
It is just the latest threat to their profession, after climate change, pollution and a sharp fall in the numbers of women willing to brave the often icy waters to harvest seafood.
With 507 women registered, Kim belongs to the largest group of haenyeo in the port city of Busan, but only about 300 are still active, most of them ageing. The youngest is 65. They fear they may be the last of the sea women.
“The Japanese government is bringing a war without swords and guns against the entire world,” said Kim, who joined protest rallies in front of the Japanese consulate in the South Korean city of Busan to demand that the plan be dropped.
“The whole world should be up in arms to stop them.”