14 Facts About Hwang Jini

Hwang Jini was noted for her exceptional beauty, charming quick wit, extraordinary intellect, and her assertive and independent nature.

Hwang Jini has become an almost myth-like figure in modern Korea, inspiring novels, operas, films, and television series.

Hwang Jini's father was from a noble family in Kaeseong.

Hwang Jini was known for her beauty and her bold personality.

Hwang Jini then ran out and stripped off her outer skirt from her hanbok to cover the coffin, and only then did the coffin started to move again.

Hwang Jini then decided to become a gisaeng after losing her lover at the age of 15.

Hwang Jini chose to become a gisaeng in order to escape the strict rules that women had to follow during the Joseon Dynasty.

Hwang Jini refused to follow strict social norms for women and chose the life of a gisaeng giving her the freedom to learn not only dance and music, but art, literature, and poetry - topics that were not normally taught to young women during the time.

Hwang Jini gave the riddle to any man who wanted to be her lover and she waited for many years until one man came and solved the riddle.

Hwang Jini's sijo are considered the most beautiful ever written.

Hwang Jini had written a handful of poems during her lifetime, many of which are famously known and taught still to this day in the Korean education system.

Hwang Jini became a famous Korean poet due to these hansis and sijos.

Hwang Jini expressed her emotions in sijos in a different way than her male counterparts as they were not as informal as hers.

Hwang Jini wasn't criticized for this as gisaengs were of low class and people didn't put much meaning behind things that they said.