The Businesswoman Who Saved Jeju Island

김만덕, 1739 - 1812

From servant to savior: 김만덕 (Kim Man-deok), the merchant who fed a starving island.

김만덕

김만덕 (Kim Man-deok), born in 1739 on 제주도 (Jeju Island), was a remarkable woman who rose from humble beginnings to become a wealthy merchant and philanthropist. Her life and deeds are recorded in various historical texts, including the 『만덕전』 (Biography of Man-deok) written by 채제공 (Chae Je-gong).

제주도

Historical records highlight Kim's journey from an orphaned girl to a successful businesswoman, and her extraordinary act of charity during the 1795 famine on Jeju Island. Despite facing social barriers as a woman and former gisaeng, Kim's business acumen and compassion earned her recognition from 정조 (King Jeongjo) and respect from scholars like 정약용 (Jeong Yak-yong).

Now, I welcome you to the story of 김만덕 - how one woman's generosity saved countless lives and challenged the social norms of her time.

Let the story begin...