Traditional South Korean female divers rally outside Ssangyong Engineering & Construction's headquarters in Seoul on June 29, claiming a harbor project cost them their livelihood. YONHAP NEWS AGENCY
Editor's note:In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.
Under the scorching morning sun, dozens of women sat shoulder to shoulder on mats outside a high-rise in Seoul's Songpa District on June 29 and 30.
Some were in their 60s and 70s. Others were well into their 80s. All wore white towels on their heads and red headbands bearing the phrase "damage compensation". Some held signs that read: "Our livelihoods have been taken away. Compensate for the damage!"
The 52 women are haenyeo, South Korea's traditional female divers, who traveled more than 300 kilometers to Seoul from a fishing village in Homigot in the southeastern port city of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
