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The Rest Is History

266: South Korea: The Riddle of Hwang Jini

The Rest Is History

Goalhanger

History

4.618.6K Ratings

🗓️ 28 November 2022

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Join Tom and Dominic on their journey to the 16th century Korean peninsula, as they discuss Hwang Jini - a gisaeng, poet, and entertainer - and her everlasting impact on Korean culture. Dubbed by Tom the 'poetic Emma Hamilton', the story of Hwang Jini takes us through Diamond Mountains, Buddhism and Confucianism, 16th century Korean social class, and much more... Join The Rest Is History Club (www.restishistorypod.com) for ad-free listening to the full archive, weekly bonus episodes, live streamed shows and access to an exclusive chatroom community. *The Rest Is History Live Tour 2023*: Tom and Dominic are back on tour this autumn! See them live in London, New Zealand, and Australia! Buy your tickets here: restishistorypod.com Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, welcome to the rest of history. We continue with our World Cup marathon and today

0:16.7

we are in the far east. We are in South Korea, the land of K-pop and the squid game. But

0:24.1

also Dominic, it's time. Well, I'm leaving it hanging because I was hoping that you'd come

0:29.8

in because your choice of theme today is, well, it's a slightly reshershade one, isn't it?

0:36.5

But also an intriguing one. I wouldn't say reshershade time. I think it's fair to say since we started

0:41.4

this podcast, the rest of history, there have been some subjects that you've been very keen to do.

0:45.2

So you've often said you'd like to do the Roman emperors. One day you will give us your

0:50.3

podcast about the historical Jesus. Well, for Christmas, it's going to be a Christmas treat.

0:55.0

Foted for by the fans, which everyone's much looking forward to. And another subject that I know

0:58.6

you've often shown an enormous amount of interest in. You've said you're particularly passionate,

1:03.4

I believe, about early modern South Korean poetry. Is that right Tom? Love it. Absolutely. Love it.

1:09.5

Well, you know, I mean, right from the beginning, I would say we have to do an episode on that.

1:14.8

That is what the punters will want. It's a subject that we've often had a lot of requests about

1:20.2

people have said, when are you going to do the Hitler tutors 60th century South Korean poetry?

1:27.8

It's just endless. But today is the day. Sorry, I mostly appreciate you, Tom. But we're going to be

1:33.5

talking about the South Korean poet Wang Ji-Ni. They do that on all the other podcasts. Let's cut

1:38.8

to the stand snow, don't they? Yes. He does it every other week. So let's cut to the chase.

1:47.0

How familiar are you with the institution of the KCN? The Korean geyser girls. It is very good.

1:53.9

Very good, Tom. KCN were women from outcast families or kind of slave families.

1:59.8

And basically, they were trained to be courtesans and they provided entertainment and sort of comfort,

2:06.5

I suppose you would say, if you were being euphemistic to powerful men. But is it, is it, so how,

2:12.2

I mean, how like the geysers are they? Kind of modeled on them. No, is it the other way around?

...

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