In the anciant Korea and just like geishas, they were young girls dedicated to entertainment. To become a gisaeng a woman had to go through several years of hard training and learn arts, literature, music, dance, singing, poetry, etc. This is how the gisaeng managed to master the arts in an extraordinary way. Now, the gisaeng represented a rather curious paradox. By definition they belonged to the lowest social class, the same as slaves, but their studies and skills positioned them at the highest levels of culture and the arts.
Although you may not believe it, in ancient Korea there were social castes, and giseang were even below prostitutes, which may be the reason why they are confused with women of carnal pleasures, since in the sources I have reviewed, all deny that they are prostitutes, but being of low social extraction, they were not at the same level as prostitutes. Although paradoxically, they had the opportunity to access an education that no other woman could have, not even those of the highest class, could even dream of an education like that. And that is why much of Korean culture has been transmitted to our days thanks to them.
Although young women were properly trained in art, poetry and prose; and music, they were considered the lowest social class and at the same time, respected as cultured artists. Women could become kisaeng through several paths. Some were daughters of kisaeng, who inherited their mother's status. Some were sold to the gijeok (was a list of all the kisaeng working in a particular district) by families who could not support them. Many of these families were of lower rank, but sometimes, poor families of higher rank would sell their daughters, and even women of the yangban aristocracy became kisaeng, usually because they had violated the strict sexual norms of the Joseon period.
Despite all this, giseangs were slaves of the government, even though kisaeng had a number of important political roles as servants of the state. They were employed to entertain visiting dignitaries from China and Japan, and to accompany them if they traveled around the country. They were supervised by the official in charge of kisaengs, called hojang. The hojang was also in charge of keeping records of kisaengs and preventing kisaengs from running away. Kisaengs were required to carry out their employers' requests, unless they had previously notified the hojang. Kisaengs in a district were inspected twice a month and when a new official entered the area. Kisaengs' businesses were not directly supervised by the state.
Most kisaengs had a gibu, or "kisaeng's Sugar daddy," who provided protection and financial assistance. Most gibu were soldiers, government employees, or servants in the royal household. Despite this, they had no legal duty or power from the kiseang.
Their origin is quite uncertain and there are several theories that try to explain the origin of the kisaeng. One of the many theories explained that the beginning of the kisaeng is located in the system called wonhwa (원화), a name given to groups of women who were bearers of great beauty and who under the mandate of Jinheung (526-576), the twenty-fourth king of the kingdom of Silla, were indoctrinated to carry out this work. On the other hand, there is another theory that explains that the origin of the giseangs was located in the 10th century due to the abundant migrations produced by the unification of the Three Kingdoms in the year 936 and the beginning of the new Goryeo Dynasty. At this time, the gisaeng depended directly on the government, in fact, many of them were employed in the court itself, although they were also found scattered throughout the country.
Kisaeng houses in the Joseon Dynasty were located particularly close to the centre of a village, often near markets. They were there to create a "cozy effect"; in many cases, the location was carefully chosen and the area around the house was carefully decorated with an ornamental pool and plants.
Today, believe it or not, kiseangs still exist, but very few traditional kisaeng houses still operate in South Korea, many of the traditions and dances have been lost. Some South Korean businessmen bring their foreign partners to a kisaeng house. But many say it is not the same.
Some famous kiseangs are:
Eowudong, a 15th-century writer, poet, politician, dancer, artist, scholar, painter and philosopher.
Yi Mae-chang, a poetess from Buan.
Hwang Jin-yi, a musician and intellectual from Gaeseong. And about whom the most movies and dramas have been made.
Non Gae, remembered for assassinating a Japanese general at the Battle of Jinju.
Gyewolhyang, who tried to kill General Konishi Yukinaga in Pyongyang.
Kim Ja-ya, South Korea's last classically trained kisaeng.
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