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International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8, provides an opportunity to reflect on the strides made in women's rights in Korea — a transformation that would have been unthinkable during the 500-year reign of the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, when neo-Confucian ideals dictated rigid gender roles.

Yet, even in an era when women's voices were largely silenced, there were still a handful of extraordinary women who stood up to defy norms and left an enduring mark on Korean history. Through literature, art, business and philanthropy, these women shaped their times in ways few — even men — could.

Their stories are more than just echoes of the past — they are enduring lessons of resilience and intellect that can break through the toughest of barriers. As we commemorate International Women's Day, we look back at the legacies of these trailblazing women, whose courage and contributions continue to inspire generations of Korean women today.

A statue of Shin Saimdang, located at the Ojukheon Municipal Museum in Gangneung, Gangwon Province / Courtesy of Ojukheon Municipal Museum

Shin Saimdang (1504-51)

Shin Saimdang, a pioneering artist, writer and poet of the 16th century, remains one of Korea's most celebrated historical figures.

Despite the male-dominated society of her time, Shin's intellect and artistic talent earned her lasting recognition, making her the first woman ever to appear on a Korean banknote — the 50,000 won note — since 2009.

Born into a scholarly family as the third of five daughters, Shin received an education that nurtured her literary and artistic gifts — an uncommon privilege for women of the time. Historians suggest that her prominence stemmed from having no brothers, allowing her to receive an education typically reserved for sons.

This background also influenced how she later educated her own eight children, including Yulgok Yi I, a revered Confucian scholar also featured on Korea's 5,000 won note.

Shin Saimdang's "Chochungdo," or paintings of grass and insects, are currently in the collection of the National Museum of Korea. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea

Shin's artwork is mostly known for its delicate portrayal of natural themes, including insects, flowers, butterflies, orchids, grapes, fish and landscapes. Around 40 of her ink and stone-paint works still exist today.

Her "Chochungdo" (paintings of grass and insects) series is particularly renowned for its lifelike depictions and rich symbolism. According to a tale, a chicken once pecked at one of her paintings, mistaking it for real insects.

Beyond visual arts, Shin also left a significant literary legacy. Several of her poems remain part of Korean middle and high school curricula, including the well-known "Thinking of Parents," a heartfelt tribute to filial devotion.

Actor Lee Young-ae stars as Shin Saimdang in SBS' 2017 TV series, "Saimdang: Memoir of Colors." Courtesy of SBS

To celebrate her legacy, a number of contemporary novels, films and dramas have reimagined Shin's life as a gifted woman of Joseon.

One of the most recent adaptations is the SBS' TV series, "Saimdang: Memoir of Colors," in which renowned actor Lee Young-ae portrays Shin as both a brilliant painter with an extraordinary sense of color and a passionate lover.

Heo Nanseolheon (1563-89)

A portrait of Heo Nanseolheon, a renowned female poet of the Joseon era / Courtesy of Korea Design and Craft Foundation

Heo Nanseolheon, one of the most renowned female poets of Joseon, also left a mark on Korean literature amid the era's rigid social norms.

Born into an aristocratic family, Heo is known to have displayed literary talent from a very young age, mastering poetry and Chinese classics. Encouraged by her yonger brother Heo Gyun — himself a celebrated writer of one of the most famous Korean classics "The Tale of Hong Gil-dong," she crafted elegant verses that captured nature's beauty.

However, Heo's life was marred by misfortune after marriage, as recorded in her later poems and by her younger brother. Married at just 15 to a jealous husband, she later suffered the loss of both her children.

Devastated, Heo found solace in poetry, using it as an outlet for her loss and suppressed intellect.

While her early works, such as "Song of Autumn Night," beautifully describe nature's scenery and folklore, later pieces like "Woman's Grievance" carry a heavier emotional tone, reflecting the hardships of womanhood in Joseon. Some of her poems even take on a sharp, moralistic style, critiquing hedonistic men and expressing sympathy for girls from poorer backgrounds.

Heo's life was tragically cut short from illness at the age of 27.

Before her death, she ordered her younger brother to burn all her works. While most were incinerated, her brother, unwilling to let her legacy vanish, preserved and later published a collection of her poetry, allowing modern readers to catch a glimpse of the struggles of women in the Joseon era.

In admiration of Heo's tragic yet beautiful life, actor Koo Hye-sun both directed and starred in MBC Gangneung's two-part documentary drama, "Heo Nanseolheon" in 2014.

A musical adaptation of her life, "Nanseol," also premiered in 2019, centering on Gyun's narrative as he reflects on his older sister's life in the face of his own death. Following enthusiastic reception, the production extended to its third run last year.

Gim Man-deok (1739-1812)

A portrait of Gim Man-deok, a female merchant of Jeju Island during the mid-Joseon Dynasty / Courtesy of Korea Design and Craft Foundation

Gim Man-deok, a remarkable entrepreneur and philanthropist of Joseon, is another figure who overcame social barriers to build a fortune — only to give it away in a selfless act of generosity.

Born into a poor household on Jeju Island off the southern coast of Korea, Gim became a "gisaeng" — enslaved women trained to provide artistic entertainment to upper-class men — after her parents' deaths when she was just 11 years old.

During her life as a gisaeng, Gim not only learned how to sing and dance but also received education in the arts, medicine, crafts and horseback riding. Given the traditional location of gisaeng houses near town markets, she also gained a keen understanding of trade.

At 22, Gim managed to remove her name from the gisaeng registry — a rare achievement, as gisaengs were considered state property and had to pay a significant sum to earn their freedom. She then opened an inn for merchants and established a commission agency for port trade, acting as an intermediary between Jeju and mainland merchants, utilizing the knowledge she had honed earlier in life.

By age 50, Gim had amassed significant wealth, securing a monopoly on rice and salt and becoming one of the wealthiest individuals of Joseon, according to historical records.

However, Gim's legacy was defined not just by her financial success, but by her compassion for the Jeju people.

In 1795, Jeju suffered a devastating famine due to repeated crop failures, strong winds and high tides, starving many to death. Out of pure compassion, Gim then donated most of her fortune to import and distribute food, primarily rice, saving an estimated 18,000 lives.

Her humanitarian efforts caught the attention of King Jeongjo, who praised her benevolence and granted her an audience at the royal court — an extreme honor for a woman of her background.

Actor Lee Mi-yeon stars as Gim Man-deok, Jeju Island's merchant of the Joseon era in KBS' 2010 TV series, "The Great Merchant." Courtesy of KBS

Today, Gim is remembered not only as a savvy businesswoman but also as a model of compassion and care. Affectionately referred to as "Man-deok Halmang" (Grandmother Man-deok), she remains a symbol of generosity, teaching modern Koreans that true wealth lies in kindness.

Adored by history lovers, Gim's story was also reimagined in 2010 as a 30-episode TV drama by national broadcaster KBS. Titled "The Great Merchant," the series portrayed Gim as a determined entrepreneur who cleverly navigates through life's hurdles as a woman in the Joseon era.

Yi Bingheogak (1759-1824)

The recovered cover of "Gyuhap Chongseo" transcript, originally written by Yi Bingheogak, a Joseon Dynasty female author / Courtesy of National Hangeul Museum

Yi Bingheogak, an intellectual and author, broke new ground for Joseon women by writing on practical topics reserved mostly for men of her time — astronomy, geography, economics and even tips on daily life.

Born into a scholarly family, Yi later married a man working as a government official. Her firsthand experience managing a household under a rigid social structure is known to have deeply influenced her practical writings.

Yi is best known for "Gyuhap Chongseo" (Instructions for Women's Lives), an encyclopedic guide written in 1809.

Covering topics from household management and child-rearing to medicine, agriculture and traditional cooking, the book provided practical knowledge for women, offering them access to information through a medium mostly regarded as the domain of men.

Her authorship of "Gyuhap Chongseo" was only confirmed in 1939, nearly 130 years after it was written. That same year, another of her works, "Chonggyu Pangmulji," was also discovered — a four-volume study on themes like astronomy, geography and vegetation.

Though overlooked for centuries, Yi is now celebrated as a pioneering female thinker, with her works remaining an invaluable historical resource, preserving the voices of women in an era dominated by patriarchical narratives.