Is it still possible to find kisaengs in today's Korea?
Do kisaengs (female Korean entertainers, sometimes described as analogous to geishas in Japan) still exist, and is it possible to watch a performance or book an evening with them? The Wikipedia article suggests they're somewhere between endangered and extinct, but couldn't find any sources more focused on tourism describing whether they still exist.
I'm open to traveling to South Korea or Japan, but not North Korea.
Best Answer
I didn't see any real kisaengs while in Korea, but while visiting one of the castles in Seoul, I saw a tourist dressed up as one. This was pointed out to me by a guide giving an English-language tour of the castle.
The blog post Queen, Maiden, or Gisaeng?: How to choose your Hanbok in your next photo trip confirms that it's possible for tourists to dress up as kisaengs (spelt as "Gisaeng" in the blog post):
Seoul (and the whole of Korea, for that matter) teems with places where you can try the Hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire. From the airport to tourist spots like palaces, traditional villages, and museums, the Hanbok experience is an ever present attraction which signals that you are, indeed, in Korea.
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Not all Hanbok are created equal, though. During the Joseon period, one’s social status was made apparent through the kind of Hanbok one wore. And if you intend to relive your Hanbok fantasy down pat, accuracy is key. That is, would you want to appear as a queen, maiden or gisaeng in the next photo you’ll proudly post on Facebook (or any other social network you use)?
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Do Kisaengs still exist?
The Gabo Reform of 1895 officially abolished the class system of Joseon dynasty, and slavery as well. From that year forward, all kisaeng became nominally free, and the gwan-gi no longer belonged to the government. In practice, many kisaeng, like many other slaves, continued in servitude for many years.Are there geishas in Korea?
SEOUL, South Korea \u2014 They are known as the "flowers that can understand words" \u2014 graceful entertainers from Korea's past who are adept at poetry, art and music, and are the peninsula's version of Japan's geishas. And they have become the new hot cultural property in 21st-century South Korea.What is a Korean Kisaeng?
The gisaeng\u2014often referred to as kisaeng\u2014were highly-trained artist women in ancient Korea who entertained men with music, conversation, and poetry in much the same way as Japanese geisha. Highly skilled gisaeng served in the royal court, while others worked in the homes of the "yangban"\u2014or scholar-officials.The Kisaeng, Joseon's Courtesans [History of Korea]
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