Yi Guji was a Joseon princess, writer, artist, and poet. She was forced to commit suicide after it was discovered that she had cohabited with a slave after being widowed.
Life
Yi Guji was a daughter of Prince Yangnyeong, first son of the third Joseon king, Taejong of Joseon. Her mother was a palace slave with whom Yangnyeong had two children, but her name has not been recorded. Yi was given the title of Princess and married Kwon Deok-young, a lesser official, and went to live in Gwangju, her husband's hometown. They had two sons. Kwon died in 1470 and Yi was prevented from remarrying by social stigma, then by the issuing of the Anti-Remarriage Law of 1477.
Investigation
In 1475, it was reported to the Saheonbu that Yi had been cohabiting with her slave. Yi's nephew, Hak Rimjeong requested that the situation be investigated without resorting to interrogation. He proposed that Cheonrye be moved to his residence, where the man could be questioned. One official reported that his son travelling from Gwangju had heard rumours of an aristocratic lady who was liaising with a slave, while another official said that his servant had observed Cheonrye sleeping and eating in the room next to his mistress' bedchamber. Seongjong, however, refused to arrest Yi based on gossip alone. This caused much dispute amongst officials on the policy of 'arresting regardless of suspicion', which some argued should apply only to common people and not the private affairs of an aristocratic lady. In 1489, the Saheonbu reported that Yi Guji had mothered a daughter by her slave, who had married the previous year. The officials now argued that, though any previous investigation had been dismissed, this was a case of public morality. Seongjong ordered that all servants be tortured to investigate the claim. Chunrye died during the interrogation and more than 40 people were arrested. Though some members of the government argued that death was too strong a punishment for a woman of the royal clan, it was agreed that death was more respectful than torture, and Yi was condemned.
