[K-Women Talk] Joseon Woman Shin Taeyoung Who Stood Firm in the Face of Divorce Proceedings

Imprisoned by Her Husband's Slander and False Testimony
Turns the Tables with a Testimony Spanning Thousands of Words
A Heated Debate Among Court Officials Over the Case

Lee Han, historian and writer

Most names of noblewomen were not passed down. Sometimes they appeared on memorial tablets, genealogies, or family records, but generally, they were not revealed, and even parents would refer to their daughters after marriage and childbirth as 'someone's mother.' A woman's name would only come to light if she became a notorious criminal. Here is one such woman. Her name is Shin Taeyoung. Initially, she was only known as Lady Shin, the wife.

In 1704, the nobleman Yoo Jeonggi petitioned the Ministry of Rites to grant him a divorce from his wife, Lady Shin. According to Yoo Jeonggi, Lady Shin was a madwoman. He claimed she disrupted ancestral rites, set the house on fire, gambled, and hurled insults. The couple had already been living apart for over ten years, but Yoo Jeonggi was not satisfied with that and requested a divorce. Yoo Jeonggi's relatives collectively documented Lady Shin's misdeeds in detail.

As a result, Lady Shin became a criminal and was imprisoned, and her name 'Taeyoung' was revealed to the world. Even if there had been marital conflicts, was this really a matter that needed to reach the Ministry of Justice? It was no longer just a divorce; she was branded as a villainess of the realm and faced punishment. However, Shin Taeyoung did not despair or grieve but stood alone against the world.

While imprisoned, Shin Taeyoung disclosed her circumstances and grievances in detail. Her lengthy testimony, said to have spanned thousands of words, revealed a situation completely different from Yoo Jeonggi's claims. Originally, Shin Taeyoung had married Yoo Jeonggi as his second wife, bore five children, and lived together for 27 years. However, after Yoo Jeonggi took a new concubine and showed favoritism, he began to mistreat Shin Taeyoung. Moreover, even the children from his first wife harassed her. Once these facts came to light, the entire situation was overturned. Those who gave testimony unfavorable to Shin Taeyoung were either concubines or people bribed by Yoo Jeonggi, rendering their statements invalid.

That was not all. Although Shin Taeyoung's testimony was not recorded, it was said to be so eloquent and logically consistent that the royal historians of the Joseon Dynasty suspected, "Is there a skilled official writing behind Shin Taeyoung?" But how could that be? The official was not behind her but inside her. The capable person who could calmly respond despite hardship, injustice, and crisis was Shin Taeyoung herself, not some hidden figure. As the trial continued, this case became a major issue in Joseon, sparking numerous debates for and against, and ultimately, Yoo Jeonggi's divorce petition was rejected.

Nevertheless, in 1712, Yoo Jeonggi again requested a divorce from Shin Taeyoung. Despite being over 60 years old, he even showed sincerity by prostrating himself before the king's procession to plead. Once again, fierce debates erupted among court officials over Shin Taeyoung's divorce, but before a verdict was reached, Yoo Jeonggi passed away. Although the person who wanted the divorce died, the controversy continued, and King Sukjong finally ruled that "although Shin Taeyoung is at fault," allowing a divorce would set a bad precedent, so he did not permit it.

Thus, Shin Taeyoung remained Yoo Jeonggi's wife until the end. Today, one might say that a clean divorce and living well would be the best revenge, but this was the Joseon era. Shin Taeyoung likely did not want to do what her husband most desired. However, this case was not simply about a couple's divorce; it was about a woman, who was the weaker party, standing up to her husband and the world to raise her voice.

Lee Han, Historical Writer