'Our sea is gone'

Uphill battle

Although the divers hope their grievances are heard, an uphill battle still lies ahead.

Seo Na-hyun, 60, said the divers met with one of the company's executives on June 29, but did not receive the response they had hoped for.

"We came here hoping to receive at least some compensation for what we have lost, or at least a blueprint of it. But the company told us there can be no compensation at all. That's what makes us feel frustrated," Seo said.

She said the compensation is needed to make up for the income the divers have lost.

"Before, we earned 1 million won (about $660) a month and paid about 300,000 won in commission to the cooperative's staff," Seo explained, adding the company had threatened the lives of many people in Homigot.

During the rally, Rep. Lee Sanghwi of the main opposition People Power Party stopped to speak with the divers and meet with the company officials.

Asked for comment, the politician had nothing much to say.

"You wouldn't be here protesting if things had worked out. It's a very complicated issue. I'll think about what I can do to help resolve it," he said.

If the deadlock persists, Seo warned that the divers will "keep fighting", taking their protests to the National Assembly, Cheong Wa Dae (official residence of the president of South Korea), and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries until their voices are heard.

"The sooner the company comes to the table and discusses compensation with us, the easier it will be for everyone," Seo said.

Boo said they are not asking for charity.

"We are asking to be compensated because we've lost our livelihood. If someone takes away your home or your means of making a living, they should take responsibility," she said.

Many of the women now travel to neighboring fishing villages to continue diving, but Boo said those waters can never replace what they once had in Homigot.

"We can still earn something elsewhere. But it isn't the same. This was our sea," she said.

A senior official at Ssangyong E&C told The Korea Herald that the company "understands the divers' frustration" but stressed that compensation is the responsibility of the project owner, not the contractor.

The official said that it won the public project through a competitive bidding process and carried out the construction in accordance with its contract.

Any decision on compensation, if necessary, falls under the authority of the Pohang Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, he said.

"We understand why the divers are protesting, but the company was only the contractor. We did not carry out faulty construction or cause environmental pollution," the official said.

THE KOREA HERALD, SOUTH KOREA