Apple TV Plus’ new documentary The Last of the Sea Women, highlights the plight of the haenyeo, or sea women of Jeju Island, South Korea. In this Goggler exclusive, we spoke with director Sue Kim about the hardships these women face, the unlikely new faces joining their ranks, and their future in a climate challenged world.
The Last of the Sea Women is now streaming on Apple TV Plus.
In The Last of the Sea Women, an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. Often called real-life mermaids, the haenyeo divers of South Korea’s Jeju Island are renowned for centuries of diving to the ocean floor — without oxygen — to harvest seafood for their livelihood. Today, with most haenyeo now in their 60s, 70s and 80s, their traditions and way of life are in imminent danger. But these fierce, funny and hardworking women refuse to give an inch, aided by a younger generation’s fight to revive their ancestral lifestyle through social media. Peering into what drives haenyeo young and old, this moving documentary zeroes in on their tight-knit friendships, savvy independence and infectious sense of empowerment. The story unfolds into an uplifting tale of women taking on world powers to protect their beloved ocean and inspire a new generation.
The Last of the Sea Women was directed by Sue Kim, and produced by Malala Yousafzai, Erika Kennair, and executive produced by Nicole Stott, Emily Osborne, Harry Go, and Marissa Torres Ericson.
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