Bossam refers to the traditional Korean custom of forcing people to be wrapped in a sack and forcibly marrying them off. Although the concept of bossam applies to both men and women, during the Joseon Dynasty in ancient Korea, when this marriage custom was prevalent, bossam generally applied to widows who could not officially remarry due to restrictions social.
The term “bossam” is most often used in modern Korean society to refer to a popular dish of steamed pork belly wrapped in cabbage leaves. Although the pork belly dish and the ancient custom share a similarity in the act of wrapping something, the usage of the two terms is completely different.
The custom of “bossam” in the Joseon period
Originally, the custom of “bossam” was a way to avoid greater misfortune by making a smaller sacrifice, practiced by nobles during the Joseon Dynasty. When a young girl from a noble family saw two husbands in her destiny, she was forced to sleep with another man, chosen for the bossam. Then the girl believed that her destiny to remain a virgin was ruined.
However, during the middle to late Joseon period, the meaning of bossam changed. The previous bossam, which meant secretly bringing another man, was transformed into secretly bringing a widow.
The custom of secretly wrapping a widow spread in the irrational environment of Joseon society, which forced widows to remain devoted to their late husbands and prevented them from remarrying. The Joseon dynasty was oriented around Confucianism and had formed a patriarchal society, so women’s freedom was largely suppressed at the time. For example, men could remarry if their wives died or even if they were alive, however women were not allowed to remarry, even if they were widowed.
The bossam tradition was often carried out with mutual agreement. Widows’ parents planned ahead out of fear for their children, and widows who had already found a new man, secretly promised bossam for their marriage. Thanks to the bossam, they could avoid social criticism by giving the impression that they had no choice but to marry.
Although the custom of bossam has not been officially recognized on a national or social level, it has become a well-known secret custom. However, it has happened that widows have undergone bossam without mutual agreement, exposing them to sexual crimes.
The K-drama “Bossam: Steal the Fate”
“Bossam: Steal the Fate” is a K-drama that addresses the concept of bossam and was broadcast on the Korean television channel, MBN. This K-drama is a historical work that features Ba-woo, who practices bossam for money, and who, by mistake, kidnaps Princess Soo-kyung, widow and daughter-in-law of Ba’s enemy -woo. Actor Jung Il-woo will play the role of Ba-woo and actress Kwon Yuri, a member of the girl group Girls’ Generation, will play Princess Soo-kyung.
The K-drama is set during the mid-Joseon period and depicts marriage through bossam as a common practice. The fact that the main character pursues bossam as his main profession also gives the audience an idea of the atmosphere of the time. In the K-drama, there is a scene where a widow is beautifully dressed and waiting for the man to perform bossam for her, which is a good example showing that bossam takes place with mutual agreement. The K-drama received positive responses from viewers.
Suho’s new K-drama “Missing Crown Prince” which just aired on April 14 is a spin-off of “Bossam: Steal the Fate”. It is a romantic comedy set in the Joseon era and tells the story of a crown prince who is kidnapped by the woman who is about to become his wife. As they flee for their lives, a romance eventually blossoms between them.
