gisaeng

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Scope note
Women entertainers for the Korean royal court, as well as in provincial centers. Traditionally, gisaeng were educated women trained in music, dance, calligraphy, and poetry, while at the same time they were from a low social class, and are often referred to as sex workers or courtesans, especially during the Japanese colonial era. It is generally agreed that the appearance of gisaeng began in the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392), where they acted primarily as government servants. By the time of Korean liberation in 1945, the practice formally disappeared.
gisaeng
Accepted term: 01-Dec-2025