The Island of Sea Women

Young-sook and many of her elderly friends attend a ceremony for the official opening of the Jeju April 3 Peace Park. It is meant to commemorate the year-long anti-insurgent purge that began on that date in 1947 and to honor those who died during that time. In the intervening years, the government has tried to cover up the atrocities that occurred, but a public acknowledgment of these crimes is finally taking place.

At the park, the assembled crowd hears grand speeches about rising above the past and looking toward the future. Young-sook thinks, “But it wasn’t time for her. Even now, she’s too accustomed to her anger and sorrow to change” (261). After the speeches, the visitors inspect a memorial engraving where Young-sook finds the names of her husband, son, and sister-in-law. She makes a charcoal rubbing of their names and realizes that she’s being observed by the tourist family. Afterward, Clara comes up to her and says, “My mom asked me to follow you. She wants me to make sure you’re all right” (264).

In February, it’s time for the shaman to perform an annual ritual, asking for the blessing of the goddess on both the fishermen and the haenyeo of Jeju.