The culturally iconic haenyeo, or female divers, of Jeju Island are likely to get a nod from Unesco.
If so, they would be classified under the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of Unesco, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration on Monday.
The authorities are confident that the country will be awarded its 19th cultural heritage listing.
This year, Unesco evaluated 37 intangible cultural heritage applications. Its decision will be announced in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from Nov 26 to Dec 2.
Haenyeo, a dying breed with 2,404 divers as of 2015, has a centuries-long history on the South Korean island of Jeju.
Without special diving equipment or oxygen tanks, the divers – nearly all are above 50 years old – dive to as deep as 5m to 10m to collect marine products and seafood such as abalone, sea cucumber, seaweed and shells.
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