Jeju’s female divers open homes to travelers
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Kim Sunja (74) and Choi Soon-deok (55), both haenyeo (female divers) from Jeju Island, South Korea, recently began offering lodging to travelers in their homes.
Kim, who has dived for over 50 years, decided to pursue a long-held dream of running a minbak (traditional Korean bed and breakfast) to share her life and local culture. She found the initial setup challenging, especially managing reservations and using smartphone apps.
The two women are participating in season two of “Halmang Stay,” a program run by Jeju Olle with support from Airbnb’s Community Fund. The program helps senior women prepare their homes for guests and provides assistance with operations. They attended the K-Stay Expo 2026 in Seoul to learn best practices in hospitality and guest services. Both divers emphasized that the project is more than just a source of income.
Choi, who previously ran a cafe, decorated her lodging to recreate a bulteok, a traditional resting place for divers, hoping to share the warmth of haenyeo culture. The Airbnb Community Fund provided $150,000 (approximately 217.5 million Korean won) to Jeju Olle to support the program and help senior women overcome barriers to becoming hosts. They also benefit from a network of experienced hosts who assist with management and guest relations.
