THEY'RE THE FOCUS of a hit television series, a musical and comic books. Now, a movie is being made, with a dance production and more TV shows in the works. Gisaeng, the Korean equivalent of Japan's geishas, are riding a wave of popularity in modern South Korea.
Professional entertainers and artists, ranking gisaeng wielded considerable influence in ancient Korea and were admired for their sensuality and independence - qualities that have made them cultural heroines for young women. Despite its modern image, the country remains a patriarchal society.
Recent attention centres on 16th-century heroine Hwang Jin-i. The most famous of the gisaeng, she has captured the nation's attention, thanks to a lavish, 24-episode TV drama with actress Ha Ji-won in the lead role, and a successful musical that has just ended a month-long run in Seoul.
Although the award-winning TV drama focuses on the everyday lives of Joseon-era gisaeng, the Hwang musical that ran last month centred on her love life and the four men who inspired her most.
The producer of the TV series, Kim Chul-kyu, attributes the Hwang Jin-i craze to audiences' fascination with historical dramas in recent years. He says the show sought to capture the spirit of Hwang and her fellow gisaeng by portraying how they stood up to discrimination and overcame social stigma with their wit and talent.
'Hwang Jin-i represents a mysterious part of Korean history,' he says. 'Not many people in ancient Korea filled this role. The gisaeng are Korea's best-kept secret. I'm banking on this.'