[K-Women Talk] Daughters of the Sayuksin

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The plot to restore King Danjong to the throne ended in failure. The Sayuksin were executed as traitors, and all their male family members were exterminated. Seong Sammun’s father, brothers, and even his young sons were all killed. Because so many people were involved in the plot, more than 230 people died or were sacrificed. However, there were those who survived and had to endure the brutality of the times: the wives and daughters of the Sayuksin, who were reduced to the status of slaves. According to unofficial historical accounts, as Seong Sammun was being dragged to his execution, he looked at his daughter Hyo-ok and said, "You will survive because you are a daughter." Sometimes, however, living can be more harrowing than dying.

The wives and daughters of the Sayuksin were of noble status and were acquaintances and relatives of the meritorious officials. Yet the meritorious officials under King Sejo greedily divided the women among themselves. Afterwards, they coerced them into becoming their concubines. The Annals of King Sejo records, almost mockingly, that several women of the Sayuksin became concubines of the meritorious officials. In truth, however, it was the era itself—one that drove these women into such a fate—that was truly cruel and shameless. Was not the act of overthrowing Danjong itself an act of treason? Was not Confucianism most concerned with loyalty, forbidding service to two sovereigns?

The contradictions of the era quickly surfaced. In his final years, when King Sejo suffered from a severe illness, the crown prince (later King Yejong) issued a pardon and released those involved with the Sayuksin and their families. Perhaps he was overcome by guilt at the end of his life. However, the meritorious officials resisted, claiming these women were already their personal concubines or slaves. The life of Sogeunsosa, the daughter of Lee Yu-gi, a friend of Seong Sammun, was similarly twisted. After her father was executed, Sogeunsosa became the slave of Hwang Hyowon. When Hwang Hyowon's first wife died, he took Sogeunsosa as a concubine. As a slave, Sogeunsosa had no choice in the matter.

During the reign of King Seongjong, the families of the Sayuksin finally regained their original noble status. When Sogeunsosa regained her status as a noblewoman, she was eligible to become a legitimate wife, and, most importantly, her children could also become nobles. Thus, Hwang Hyowon forged records to make Sogeunsosa appear as his "official wife." However, other officials did not accept this, citing a preposterous reason: "One cannot marry the daughter of an enemy, yet you have made the daughter of a traitor your primary wife." Surely Sogeunsosa herself would never have wished to marry the enemy of her family. King Seongjong wished to turn a blind eye to the matter, as Hwang Hyowon was one of his supporters, Sogeunsosa was originally a noblewoman, and she was of royal blood.

But there was someone who put an end to it. "There are many who keep the daughters of traitors as concubines. Will you allow this for all? If the descendants of traitors enter the royal court, then there is no value in having punished the traitors." The person who said this was none other than Kim Jil, who had betrayed the Sayuksin. In the end, Sogeunsosa remained a concubine. Although they were called traitors, people continued to respect the Sayuksin and regarded them as loyal subjects, and, in the end, King Danjong was posthumously restored to the throne.

Thus, whenever I encounter records lamenting the near extinction of the Sayuksin’s descendants, I am reminded: they did survive. Though not recorded in official history, there were women who chose life over death. Just as there were Sayuksin who showed loyalty in death, there were Saengyuksin who showed loyalty in life. Even if they were forced into marriage with their parents’ enemies and bore children to continue a difficult existence, it was precisely because of this that, in this world, the DNA of loyal subjects as well as traitors could be preserved.

Lee Han, historical writer