In 2016, the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced 17 ocean heroes, who defended the nation during Korea’s 5,000 years of history. The majority were male, such as kings and well-known generals who defended the country in times of national crisis. A surprise was the inclusion of a women diver group called Jeju Haenyeohoe or Jeju Women Divers’ Society. This organization was selected for its role in defending the Korean people’s maritime rights in 1932 during the repressive Japanese occupation of Korea. Japanese corporations, sponsored by the Japanese government, threatened the Haenyeos’ livelihood by charging exorbitant commissions and membership fees. Fed up with Japan’s exploitation, five Haenyeo representatives, including Kim Okryeon, Go Chadong, Kim Gyeseok, Bu Deokryang, and Bu Chunhwa, started a protest against Japan, along with thousands of members of the official Jeju Women Divers’ Fishery Association. This protest developed into Jeju’s largest independence movement, participated in by more than 17,000 people. Haenyeos were ocean heroes, who led an independence movement to defend Korea’s maritime rights.