Kungnyŏ

Kungnyŏ (Korean: 궁녀; Hanja: 宮女; lit.''palace women'') is a Korean term referring to women working in the palace during the Joseon period. It is short for "gungjung yeogwan", which translates as "lady official of the royal court". Kungnyŏ included sanggung (palace matron) and nain (palace maids), both of whom held rank as officials. The term is also used more broadly to encompass palace women without a rank such as musuri (lowest maids in charge of odd chores), gaksimi, sonnim, uinyeo (female physicians), besides nain and sanggung.