Although the caste system used during the Choson Dynasty (大朝鮮國, 조선국, 1392-1910) was abolished through a series of reform measures taken by the government in 1894, it was only after the mid-1910s that the tradition of keeping servants at home ended. When the country was annexed by Japan (1910), the clans that had consistently produced distinguished high-level officials generation after generation fell, too. As a result, more and more clans hired servants only when they were needed. Although some of them could afford to employ male servants on a permanent basis, most wealthy clans employed just one or two female workers.
Koreans called these women chimmo (짐모). But the Japanese called them yobo (여보, darling) or omoni (어머니, mother), to show their contempt for the Korean people. However, the living conditions of these women remained very poor. The daily wage of a male worker at that time was around 1 won (圓, 원, the local currency). But most chimmo, who ate and slept at the master’s house, did not even earn that much. They were paid 5 won per month and worked from early morning till late in the evening without rest, making it difficult for them to see their families.
As Korean society developed, so, too, did the language and there were attempts to use more respectful terms, even if that did not result in a change in the women’s status. The term sikmo (식모) was originally used as the title for the heads of school kitchens or dormitories, but it has been used in place of chimmo since the late 1920s. In the 5th Republic (1980-1988) under former President Chun Doo-hwan (全斗煥, 전두환, 1931- ) in the early 1980s, some of the job titles were changed to give the workers more equal standing and sikmo became kasabojowon (가사보조윈), which was originally a housekeeper’s helper. And then in 1986, with the Seoul Asian Games bringing a new era of political correctness, the new title toumi (도움이, helper), was coined and kasabojowon became kasadoumi (가사도움이).
In later years, the number of households (the clans were lost in the history) that kept kasadoumi decreased further, but only because people were interested in protecting their privacy. Still the status of these women remained the same. Today, there are still women who work as kasadoumi to make extra money for their children’s education. It is time Koreans start to recognize these women for their contributions to society and the sacrifices they make for their families.
Koreans called these women chimmo (짐모). But the Japanese called them yobo (여보, darling) or omoni (어머니, mother), to show their contempt for the Korean people. However, the living conditions of these women remained very poor. The daily wage of a male worker at that time was around 1 won (圓, 원, the local currency). But most chimmo, who ate and slept at the master’s house, did not even earn that much. They were paid 5 won per month and worked from early morning till late in the evening without rest, making it difficult for them to see their families.
As Korean society developed, so, too, did the language and there were attempts to use more respectful terms, even if that did not result in a change in the women’s status. The term sikmo (식모) was originally used as the title for the heads of school kitchens or dormitories, but it has been used in place of chimmo since the late 1920s. In the 5th Republic (1980-1988) under former President Chun Doo-hwan (全斗煥, 전두환, 1931- ) in the early 1980s, some of the job titles were changed to give the workers more equal standing and sikmo became kasabojowon (가사보조윈), which was originally a housekeeper’s helper. And then in 1986, with the Seoul Asian Games bringing a new era of political correctness, the new title toumi (도움이, helper), was coined and kasabojowon became kasadoumi (가사도움이).
In later years, the number of households (the clans were lost in the history) that kept kasadoumi decreased further, but only because people were interested in protecting their privacy. Still the status of these women remained the same. Today, there are still women who work as kasadoumi to make extra money for their children’s education. It is time Koreans start to recognize these women for their contributions to society and the sacrifices they make for their families.
Giorgio Olivotto
Seoul, Korea
January 16, 2011
Seoul, Korea
January 16, 2011
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