Uhwudong

Eowudong or Uhwudong (1442 – 18 October 1480), also known as Eoeuludong, née Park , was a Korean dancer, writer, artist, and poet from a noble family in the Joseon period of the 15th century. Most of her work has not been preserved. She is described to be one of the evil women from the Joseon Dynasty along with Queen Munjeong, Jang Nok-su, and Royal Noble Consort Hui.

Biography
Born as Park Gu-ma, Uhwudong was from a noble family, the Eumseong Park clan , of the Joseon Dynasty. She married Yi Dong, Prince Taegang (태강수 이동, 泰江守 李仝), the great-grandson of Queen Wongyeong and King Taejong. She was forced to divorce him on account of adultery charges and subsequently she became an active poet, writer, artist, and dancer.

She was noted for her exceptional beauty, dancing, singing talent, poetry, quick wit and charm, and extraordinary intellect.

Sex scandal and execution
In 1480, she was put on trial for adultery. She was charged with having committed adultery with multiple male partners, including royal relatives, court officials and slaves. During this time period, the position of women deteriorated in Korea with the introduction of Confucian gender segregation, and there was an increasing severity in the persecution of women who committed adultery, and particularly noblewomen. Several such cases are known, such as those of Yu Gam-dong, who was sentenced to become a slave kisaeng, and Geumeumdong and Dongja, both noblewomen who were punished for having committed adultery with male relatives. Yi Gu-ji was also an example of committing adultery. The case of Uhwudong was however the perhaps most infamous of all, and became a famous scandal involving many men of high standing. The case ended with her conviction and execution. The death penalty for female adultery was formally introduced by King Jungjong in 1513.

Family

 * Father
 * Park Yun-chang (1420 – ?)
 * Mother
 * Jeong Gwi-deok (? – 20 June 1488)
 * Sibling(s)
 * Older brother - Park Seong-geun (1440 – 22 August 1488)
 * Husband
 * Yi Dong
 * Father-in-law - Yi Jeong, Prince Yeongcheon (1422 – ?)
 * Mother-in-law - Princess Consort Kwon of the Yecheon Kwon clan
 * Children
 * Daughter - Yi Beon-jwa (1462 – ?)
 * Unnamed son

In popular culture

 * Portrayed by Lee Bo-hee in the 1985 film Eoudong.
 * Portrayed by Kim Muh-hee in the 1987 film Yohwa Eoeuludong.
 * Portrayed by Kim Sa-rang in the 2007–2008 SBS TV series The King and I.
 * Portrayed by Kang Eun-bi in the 2015 film Ownerless Flower Uhwudong.