Kim Man-Deok (1739โ1812) was a successful businesswoman who saved her people from famine.
Kim Man-Deok was born on the island of Jeju and was the youngest of three children in a commoner family. At the age of twelve, she was orphaned and taken in by a female entertainer to become a kisaeng, a trained courtesan known for her artistic skills.
After her training, she made her debut as a kisaeng at the age of twenty. Although she had entered a disenfranchised social class, Kim Man-Deok managed to buy back her freedom and regain her former status at the age of twenty-four.
With her independence secured, Kim Man-Deok quickly set out to build her personal wealth. She began by opening an inn for merchants and traders. She soon developed an effective business model, selling goods at low prices to increase volume. She notably sold clothing, cosmetics, and jewelry to kisaeng and other women.
As a result, Kim Man-Deok became a wealthy and influential woman and accumulated many properties.
Jeju was often affected by food shortages and natural disasters. While the government was theoretically responsible for the distribution of goods, it did not function effectively in practice. In 1795, the island was struck by a particularly severe famine.
Kim Man-Deok purchased large quantities of rice, which she distributed to those in need. In doing so, she saved many lives. The islanders regarded her as their savior, and her actions attracted royal attention.
King Jeongjo granted her an honorary position at court and offered to reward her with anything she wished. She chose to travel to Mount Kumgang, even though women from Jeju were not normally allowed to leave the island.
Kim Man-Deok died in 1812 at the age of seventy-three. Today, she is celebrated as a benefactor in Jeju, and many communities preserve her memory. Her life was adapted into a historical drama titled The Great Merchant.
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Chong-Dae Choe, โKim Man-deok, remarkable female philanthropistโ
Hilty Ann,ย Jeju Island, Reaching to the Core of Beauty
Kim Man-Duk, merciful light - Man-Duk museum
Kim Na-Young, โReconsideration on Jeju Society and Kim Mandeokโs Life in the 18โค19th Centuryโ
Lee Hee Soo, โMatriarchal Family Structure in Koreaโs Jeju Island and its Implications for the Muslim Community in Koreaโ, in: Matrilineal, Matriarchal, and Matrifocal Islam, The World of Women-Centric Islam
