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Economy1795(Lunar)

Kim Man-deok’s Famine Relief on Jeju

When a great famine struck Jeju, the merchant Kim Man-deok spent her fortune on rice from the mainland and saved the starving; King Jeongjo summoned her to Hanyang and granted her wish.

Under King Jeongjo, Jeju suffered several bad harvests in a row and many people starved. Kim Man-deok, who had grown rich running an inn and trading Jeju produce for mainland rice, spent her wealth in 1795 to bring in over 500 seok of rice and gave most of it to the hungry.

Asked by Jeongjo what she wished for, she said she wanted to see the king in Hanyang and visit Geumgangsan. Jeju women were forbidden to leave the island, but in 1796 Jeongjo summoned her to Hanyang, gave her the title of head palace physician-woman and let her tour Geumgangsan. Chae Je-gong wrote her biography, Mandeok-jeon. Her story shows the growth of commerce and the activity of women merchants in late Joseon.

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States and rulers at the time
Joseon — Jeongjo

People

  • Kim Man-deok1739 – 1812

    leader · Woman merchant of Jeju who spent her fortune on rice to feed the starving during a great famine on the island under Jeongjo

  • Jeongjo1752 – 1800

    monarch · Twenty-second king of Joseon, founder of the Gyujanggak library and builder of Hwaseong Fortress

Before and after

Earlier
1794 Hwaseong Fortress built
Later
1795 King Jeongjo’s Royal Procession to Hwaseong

Themes that include this event

  • Jeju Island1270 – 1948

    From Tamna to Jeju — the Sambyeolcho’s last stand, Yuan horse ranches, castaways and exiles, and the island of April 3