Song Ji-hyo Dives Deep into Haenyeo Culture in New JTBC Docuseries

JTBC (Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company) unveils a compelling new documentary, Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure, where beloved actress Song Ji-hyo trades the red carpet for a wetsuit and immerses herself in the centuries-old tradition of Korean female freedivers, known as Haenyeo.

Premiering on June 15th at midnight, the docuseries takes viewers to the tranquil yet tenacious shores of Jeju Island—specifically Gujwa-eup, Hado-ri—where Song begins her journey as a novice diver. “The work of the Haenyeo is more than a livelihood; it’s a deep commitment to preserving the sea,” Song states, highlighting her respect for their culture and her earnest desire to grow alongside these resilient women.

Initially clumsy in both posture and breath control—akin to a ‘wild pony of the sea,’ a metaphor the production team affectionately uses—Song gradually transforms. She learns to spot shellfish hidden in rocky crevices, experience the powerful suction of octopuses, and finally masters the “sumbisori”, the signature whistle exhaled upon surfacing. Her underwater net, once empty, slowly begins to brim with sea treasures, symbolizing her growth as a Haenyeo-in-training.

Song’s main training hub is the ocean fronting Hado-ri, home to the island’s largest Haenyeo community, where most divers are aged 70 or older. Her mentor, Park Mi-jeong, once dreamed of being a hairdresser before choosing the sea to support her family. Sisterly bonds form with fellow divers like Oh Gi-suk and Hyun Soon-sim, sharing a silent but profound fraternity in the water.

Despite the dangers—local divers describe it as “carrying the Chilseong Plate on your back and going back and forth from the afterlife”—these women persist. Efforts like the Sea Urchin Relocation, which emulates sowing fields underwater, serve as modern conservation methods to ensure the ecosystem’s sustainability. The documentary doesn’t just showcase Song Ji-hyo’s adventure, but highlights the wisdom, struggle, and sisterhood of the Haenyeo culture.

The storyline comes full circle with Song’s return to her roots. Born in the coastal town of Tongyeong, a place where her aunt worked as a Haenyeo, this adventure is both a professional challenge and personal homecoming. Whether it’s braving deep-sea dives in Moon Sum or enduring rigorous underwater training in Seogwipo’s Hahyoo Village, Song evolves—from acclaimed actress to the resilient Cheon Su-yeon (her birth name) of the sea.

As the salty winds toughen her skin and calluses form from clutching her taewak (traditional sea float), Song embraces the true spirit of the Haenyeo. Her journey is not just a transformation of skill, but a soulful return—making Deep Dive Korea more than just television, but a poetic testament to tradition, identity, and the enduring power of women.

‘Deep Dive Korea: Song Ji-hyo’s Haenyeo Adventure’ airs June 15, midnight KST on JTBC.