[우리문화신문=김슬옹 교수]  

1453년(단종 원년) 궁녀들과 별감들이 서로 한글 편지를 주고받으며 사랑을 나누다 들키는 사건이 일어났다. 궁녀인 중비, 자금, 가지와 별감인 부귀, 수부이, 함로는 연애편지를 주고받으며 사랑을 싹틔웠지만 얼마 지나지 않아 궁궐 안에 소문이 돌아 감찰 상궁에게 들통이 나고 말았다. 그들은 곧장 지금의 경찰서인 의금부에 끌려갔고, 의금부에서는 그들에게 ‘부대시(때를 가리지 않고 사형시킴)’라는 참형을 내렸다.

하지만 열한 살 어린 나이에 임금이 된 단종은 그들의 죄를 감해 주었다. 참형을 면한 궁녀들은 곤장을 맞고 평안도 강계에서 관비로, 별감들 역시 곤장을 맞고 함길도 부령진에서 관노로 살았다. 이처럼 궁녀들과 별감들 사이에서도 한글이 주요한 의사소통 수단으로 쓰일 만큼 궁궐 안에서도 일상생활에 한글이 친숙하게 쓰였음을 알 수 있다.

A Court Lady and a Lower Official Exchange Love Letters in Hangeul

In 1453 (the first year of King Danjong’s reign), an incident occurred where court ladies and lower officials exchanged love letters written in Hangeul, which led to their discovery. The court ladies, Jungbi, Jagum, and Gaji, along with the lower officials, Bugwi, Subui, and Hamro, exchanged romantic letters and developed affections for each other. However, not long after, rumors began to spread within the palace, and the matter was reported to the supervising court lady. They were quickly apprehended and taken to the Egeumbu (the equivalent of today’s police station). There, they were sentenced to Budaeshi (a type of execution carried out without warning). However, King Danjong, who became king at the age of eleven, showed mercy and reduced their sentences. The court ladies were spared from execution but were punished with gonjang (a form of corporal punishment) and exiled to Gangye in Pyeongan-do as public servants. The lower officials also received the gonjang and were exiled to Buryangjin in Hamgyeong-do as public slaves. This incident illustrates how Hangeul had become a significant means of communication, even within the palace, as it was used in daily life among the court ladies and lower officials.