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해녀항쟁 주역 김옥련 선생 딸…"모친 유덕 기려"
In memory of her mother diving woman Kim Ok Ryon and her patriotism

Kim Ok Ryon (1909~2005, photo left) played a leading role in Jeju diving women’s anti-Japanese occupation movement in the 1930’s. In memory of Ms. Kim and her patriotism, her daughter Han In Sook, Professor emeritus, Ehwa Women’s University, presented a check for 100 million won to Jeju National University for studies of Jeju diving women.

Professor Han wishes her donation used for studies of Jeju diving women, their life and culture, and supports the efforts to earn a UNESCO cultural heritage designation of the diving women.

In 1931, Ms. Kim Ok Ryon, native of Kujwa, Jongdalli, was instrumental in organizing an independent fisheries union in opposition to the Japanese occupation authority’s control of diving women’s livelihood and prices of their marine catches.

In the following year, she led a demonstration through her anti-Japanese movement with her fellow divers, declaring that the diving women would fight against the sword-brandishing occupation authority with hoes and spears.

As the result of her leading role in the demonstration, she was arrested and tortured for 6 months in prison. She was honored for her patriotic stand by the government in 2003, and died shortly thereafter. She was 98 years old.

Professor Han earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science from Ehwa Women’s University and her doctorate in public administration from Paris 1st University. She served deanship and directorship for Ehwa’s law school and management research institute, respectively, before her retirement.