Ho Ran Sol Hon is a well-known poetess who was active in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty, the last feudal state of Korea.
She lived between 1563 and 1589.
She was born as a daughter of Ho Yop, a famous scholar at that time, and learned writing from a talented poet Ri Tal.
Researcher Cha Kwang Hyok at the History Institute under the Academy of Social Sciences says:
"According to some documents including the collection of works titled 'Works of Ran Sol Hon', Ho Ran Sol Hon was good at writing poems and painting from her childhood. She wrote a lot of poems but burned them before her death. Now only a few of them are left.
On the basis of her life experiences restricted by the feudal idea of male supremacy, Ho Ran Sol Hon wrote many poems sympathizing with the miserable lot of the contemporary women who were subjected to double and treble maltreatment and contempt."
Typical of them are the poems "The Girl of a Poor Family" and "Grieving for the Dead Children".
The poem "The Girl of a Poor Family" sings with deep sympathy of the miserable life of a girl who has to weave cloth and make dresses ceaselessly for the rich, blowing warm breath on her fingers at cold night without being married as she was "born into a poor family" though she is pretty and extremely good at needlework and hand-weaving.
The poems of Ho Ran Sol Hon showed the injustice of the then society to some extent on the basis of her life experiences, but failed to criticize it strongly and took on a sad note in general. But she became one of the typical poetesses who were active in the 16th century for her excellent poems reflecting the sufferings and experiences of the women at that time, making a contribution to the development of the women's literature of poetry.
The "Works of Ran Sol Hon", a collection of her remaining poems, serves as an important material showing the development of the women's literature of poetry in Korea at that time.
More From Voice of Korea (EN)
Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Foreign Minister
November 14, 2025
Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, met Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Foreign Minister
Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Foreign Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and paid
November 14, 2025
Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Foreign Minister of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun and paid
The agricultural workers at the Tokryon, Naeyang and Yangchun farms in Hoechang County moved into new houses thanks to the noble
November 14, 2025
The agricultural workers at the Tokryon, Naeyang and Yangchun farms in Hoechang County moved into new houses thanks to the noble
Credentials of the Indian ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the DPRK sent by Droupadi Murmu, President of the
November 14, 2025
Credentials of the Indian ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the DPRK sent by Droupadi Murmu, President of the
Choe Son Hui, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled "G7 has
November 14, 2025
Choe Son Hui, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, released the following press statement titled "G7 has
The real story-telling of exemplary women farmers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea "Mother's Happiness"
November 14, 2025
The real story-telling of exemplary women farmers and members of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea "Mother's Happiness"
A national symposium was held at the Central Youth Hall on the 13th to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the
November 14, 2025
A national symposium was held at the Central Youth Hall on the 13th to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the
A seminar in the field of historical science was held at the Academy of Social Sciences on the 12th to expose and condemn Japan
November 14, 2025
A seminar in the field of historical science was held at the Academy of Social Sciences on the 12th to expose and condemn Japan
Pyongyang is changing according to the capital city construction strategy set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Workers' Party
November 14, 2025
Pyongyang is changing according to the capital city construction strategy set forth by the Eighth Congress of the Workers' Party
One day in January 2016, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill. Looking round the
November 14, 2025
One day in January 2016, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill. Looking round the
The European regional seminar on the Juche idea "Independence, Peace and Social Development" was recently held in Helsinki of
November 13, 2025
The European regional seminar on the Juche idea "Independence, Peace and Social Development" was recently held in Helsinki of
General education units in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province, are further improving the education for training the rising
November 13, 2025
General education units in the city of Samjiyon, Ryanggang Province, are further improving the education for training the rising
It is said that orphans are the most miserable from olden times. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, however, the
November 13, 2025
It is said that orphans are the most miserable from olden times. In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, however, the
Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to his Cambodian
November 13, 2025
Pak Thae Song, Premier of the Cabinet of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to his Cambodian
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information was signed in Moscow on the 11th between the Information Committee of the
November 13, 2025
An agreement on cooperation in the field of information was signed in Moscow on the 11th between the Information Committee of the
Talks were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on the 12th between Choe Son Hui, Foreign Minister of the Democratic
November 13, 2025
Talks were held at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on the 12th between Choe Son Hui, Foreign Minister of the Democratic
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave a reception on the evening of the 12th in honour of
November 13, 2025
The Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea gave a reception on the evening of the 12th in honour of
A meeting for removal into new houses was held at the Kumsaem Farm in Kumgang County of Kangwon Province. The beautiful village
November 13, 2025
A meeting for removal into new houses was held at the Kumsaem Farm in Kumgang County of Kangwon Province. The beautiful village
Choe Son Hui, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Prak Sokhon, Deputy
November 13, 2025
Choe Son Hui, Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greetings to Prak Sokhon, Deputy
The 12th Pyongyang Musical Instruments Exhibition came to a close. Through the sci-tech presentation held during the exhibition,
November 13, 2025
The 12th Pyongyang Musical Instruments Exhibition came to a close. Through the sci-tech presentation held during the exhibition,
More Articles
