The objective of the present research is to analyse the portrayal of ‘Haenyeo’ in local textbooks in Jeju by employing the semantic network analysis approach and derive meaningful conclusions. The analysed texts were specific textbooks created and delivered to elementary school pupils by Jeju City and the Jeju City Office of Education. The texts that focused on ‘Haenyeo’ in these local textbooks were extracted and then analysed using semantic network analysis. The investigation demonstrated the significance of Jeju local textbooks in incorporating indigenous knowledge, values, and attitudes of Jeju haenyeo into the formal curriculum. Previously, the informal curriculum concealed and transmitted these aspects. However, the Jeju local textbooks failed to recognise the sustainable lifestyle and liberal communitarianism of the Jeju Haenyeo culture, which are important principles for kids to acquire in order to promote a sustainable future. Hence, it is imperative that future Jeju local textbooks enhance and reinforce the sustainable lifestyle and liberal communitarian citizenship of the Haenyeo culture and effectively impart these principles to pupils through the formal curriculum. Moreover, the secondary geography textbooks, which merely mention the term ‘haenyeo’ briefly, should actively adopt the principles of haenyeo culture as outlined in these Jeju local textbooks.