[K-Women Talk] 'Janghwa and Hongryeon' Survive Through Their Story

'Janghwa and Hongryeon' is a name that is instantly familiar to many. It comes from the classic novel "The Tale of Janghwa and Hongryeon," in which they are the main characters. Long ago, in a certain village, Janghwa and Hongryeon, daughters of Bae, the local commander, lived together. After their mother died early, they came under the care of a cruel stepmother. Despite this hardship, the two sisters remained strong. However, the stepmother came to hate them deeply and plotted to kill them. To frame Janghwa for misconduct, she fabricated evidence of a miscarriage. Despite her protests of innocence, Janghwa was ultimately driven out, and the stepmother and her son drowned her in a pond. Upon learning of this, her younger sister Hongryeon also ended her own life.

After their deaths, Janghwa and Hongryeon became vengeful spirits. Instead of seeking revenge on their stepmother or half-brother, they appealed their injustice to the local magistrate. However, when the magistrates encountered the spirits, they were so startled that they died of shock. Rumors spread throughout the village that ghosts were appearing. At this point, a courageous magistrate volunteered to take the post. He overcame his fear and sternly rebuked the spirits, saying, "How dare you disturb the world?" At last, the two sisters were able to tell their story, the truth was revealed, and the stepmother and half-brother were severely punished.

The characters in this story were real people. In 1556, there was a local commander named Bae Muryong who lived in Cheolsan, Pyeongan Province. He had two daughters, Janghwa and Hongryeon, from his first wife, who had left him a considerable fortune. The greedy stepmother falsely accused Janghwa of immoral conduct, and Commander Bae, believing it to be a disgrace to the family, had his son kill Janghwa and staged it as a suicide. Hongryeon, unable to bear the grief, also took her own life.

At the time, Jeon Dongheul, the magistrate of Cheolsan, did not let the matter go unresolved. He carefully and thoroughly examined Janghwa's body and uncovered evidence of murder. As a result, Commander Bae, the stepmother, and the half-brother were all punished. The fact that the truth of this wrongful death was revealed and the perpetrators were punished made the case a major topic of discussion, spreading nationwide as a folktale and eventually becoming the novel known as "The Tale of Janghwa and Hongryeon."

What is interesting is that while Jeon Dongheul was the hero who uncovered the truth in reality, the main characters in the novel are Janghwa and Hongryeon. In some versions, when the magistrate's investigation hits a dead end, the spirits provide a crucial hint—effectively solving their own case. Records also indicate that the real Janghwa took considerable wealth with her when she was banished, suggesting she was not a purely passive victim but a bold and meticulous person who safeguarded her own rights.

Though the real Janghwa and Hongryeon met tragic ends, they have lived on forever through their story. People likely saw in this tale a reflection of their own desire not to remain silent in the face of injustice, but to speak up and seek the truth. While it may be a joke to think of the many magistrates who died of fright because of Janghwa and Hongryeon as "troublesome complainants," in the end, their injustice was resolved and justice was served. Jeon Dongheul was renowned for his good governance not only in Cheolsan but throughout the country, eventually becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Provinces Naval Forces. Perhaps the reason the main characters became "Janghwa and Hongryeon" is that people wanted to see the protagonists reflected in young, vulnerable women who most resembled their own situations. This story has undoubtedly provided comfort and strength to countless living Janghwas and Hongryeons.

Han Lee, Historical Writer

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.