Traditions and customs in Jeju

1. Haenyeo diving

Women who free-dive for shellfish without air, some into their eighties. UNESCO-listed and genuinely disappearing.

• Tip: The Haenyeo Museum and scheduled demonstrations are the respectful way to see this.

2. Dol hareubang

Basalt grandfather statues that stood at village gates, now the island's emblem.

3. Jeju dialect

Distinct enough from mainland Korean to be classified as endangered by UNESCO.

4. Stone wall culture

Thousands of kilometres of dry basalt walls dividing fields, built without mortar.

5. Shamanic rituals

Jeju retains a living shamanic tradition with thousands of local deities.