Welcome to sailing joa

Hello, I am Hyaejin from South Korea. If you’ve been following my sailing channel “Sailing Joa”, you know how much I love ocean. However, recently, my love for sailing has sailed me into a sea of unexpected comments. Some of our viewers believe that the work I am doing in the boatyard, fixing our Edelcat 33 catamaran, is not suited for a woman like me. They say it makes me appear “low class”. I beg to differ, and here’s why.

Historically, Korean women have been the backbone in many labor-intensive sectors. From factories to the active labor movements, women have been there, making a difference. A dive into history reveals that in 1978, nearly half of South Korea’s manufacturing labor force were women. They worked hard, not because they had to, but because they had dreams and responsibilities.

Just like these heroines of the past, I find myself in the boatyard, not because of my social class, but because of my passion for sailing. I am here with a dream to sail. The boatyard is my stepping stone to the vast, open sea.

The work in the boatyard is hard. Every stroke of paint, every tightened bolt brings us closer to our dream. It’s a journey of sweat, perseverance, and joy. And it’s a trip I proudly share with my partner and with all of you on “Sailing Joa”.

I am here to break the stereotypes, just as the waves break against our soon-to-be catamaran. I am here to show that a woman’s place is wherever she dreams to be, whether that’s in a boardroom, a classroom, or a boatyard.

We are not defined by the work we do in preparation for our dreams, but by the passion that drives us towards those dreams. And as for being “low class”, there’s nothing low about pursuing what you love, learning new skills, and sharing an adventure with the world.

I invite you to join me in breaking stereotypes and in celebrating every bit of hard work that takes us closer to our dreams. Remember, every big dream begins with the decision to try.

Until the next wave, sail on and dream big!

-Hyaejin of Sailing Joa