Hwang Jini

Hwang Jini, also spelled Hwang Chini, was one of the most celebrated kisaeng, a class of professional female entertainers and artists, of Korea's Joseon dynasty, living from 1506 to 1567 during the reign of King Jungjong under the additional name Myeongwol. Noted in her own time for her beauty, wit and independent character, she composed poetry that survives among the best known works of the sijo tradition, and she has since become a near legendary figure in Korean culture, inspiring novels, operas, films and television series.