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The Korean Studies Institute

KOREAN
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Women as record subjects

Naebang-gasa is an important source of evidence that oppressed women in the medieval era became the new subject of records. In the 16th century, when Naebang-gasa was first created, East Asia was dominated by the medieval order of Chinese character cultural sphere. The writing activity of this period was the exclusive possession of a few males called the yangban nobility and the knowledge recorded as writing and liberal arts were naturally concentrated to them. In this situation, women were always excluded and alienated. Therefore, women's tradition of leading the creation of Naebang-gasa can be seen as an important cultural activity that shows the transition from the medieval era to the modern times.

Women used Hangeul, which the yangban nobility did not pay attention to, as their letters, and through this, carried out their own writing activities.The fact that the national language of Hangeul became the medium of a full-fledged literary activity, and the fact that women, who were the subject of suppression in the medieval society, could become the subject of records for the first time, possess important meanings in terms of world history. This is because the rise of national languages ​​and the emergence of women as the subjects of records are the most evident signs of modern transformation in the medieval era. In this way, Naebang-gasa secures world importance in that they substantiate transition from the medieval era to modern times in human history.

Hangeul is valued as a national language, but was deprecated as colloquial during the time when the traditions of Chinese character cultural sphere were dominant. Particularly in the medieval era, when the universal order of East Asian Chinese character cultural sphere was prioritized, Hangeul was used for enjoying leisure and singing emotions. Considering this situation, Naebang-gasa is a record that shows signs of modern times in that it actively used the national language of Hangeul, and global importance is even greater in that women were active subjects of the records through Hangeul.

Although it was not originally intended by those enjoying Naebang-gasa, Hangeul was actively enjoyed as women's language, and women accumulated knowledge and met each other through Hangeul. 'Writing' through Hangeul surpassed women's quarters, crossed the boundaries and served as a 'letter' to meet and communicate with each other, and became a unique play for women. Women met, writing and copying the lyrics and made Hangeul their language. Through these activities of women, Hangeul could gain its ultimate status as a national language.

Through Hangeul, women had their value of existence recognized by the family and society. People who were able in Naebang-gasa became widely known by the people and in the region. In addition to creating lyrics, women were responsible for writing and documenting the documents necessary for important household and village events. In particular, women's lyric writing became a culture that was indispensable at family events and important events in the region, and the lyrics that were created at that time became important cultural assets to be copied and read continuously within the community. The creation and enjoyment of Naebang-gasa enabled women to communicate and band together among themselves, and furthermore, became an important cultural activity to confirm their identity as important members of the family and the community.