Haenyeo
BY SIMPSON KIM
Jeju Island, home to Hallasan Mountain, Gotjawal Forest, Oreum Volcanic Cones, and coastal caves, is celebrated as a “treasure island” for its natural wonders and long history of human coexistence with nature. In 2012, the World Conservation Congress adopted the “Jeju Declaration,” pledging to preserve the island as a model of sustainability by 2020. Yet, that vision remains unfulfilled.
In recent years, rapid population growth, tourism, and development have strained the island’s environment. Policies promoting economic growth and infrastructure expansion have led to a twofold increase in daily waste over just seven years, directly contradicting the Jeju Declaration’s goals. The outcome reflects a broader truth: capitalism and consumerism often prioritize profit over ecological balance, accelerating environmental destruction.
Through this project, Simpson confronts the environmental toll on Jeju, using the island as both subject and symbol to pose a universal question: how can humanity thrive without destroying the environment that sustains it?
ABOUT SIMPSON
Simpson Kim is a South Korean photographer, specializing in street style and fashion photography. In 2021, he left university and headed to New York to become a street photographer. He walked New York’s streets every day, capturing the eclectic styles of the city. Since 2015, Simpson has worked with WWD for street style during Seoul Fashion Week. His photographs have been featured in Vogue US, British GQ, WWD Japan, among other publications. He has also worked with various fashion brands around the world.