The thread is open.

@Fern mentioned on another thread that SoonDeok’s mother-in-law, Lady SoHyun, still calls her as “GeunSeok’s omma” and that only a few people call her by her real name.

I said it’s customary in Korea to refer to a parent by the name of their children. This practice is called teknonymy. We often hear it in kdramas, however, the subbers sometimes exchange the appellation for the real name in the subtitles, similar to how “hyung” and “unnie” are replaced with the actual name.

Anyway…

To me, Lady SoHyun’s habit of calling SoonDeok as “GeunSeok’s omma” brings to our attention that SoonDeok’s individuality has been subsumed into her subservient role(s) in society. She’s a widow, a daughter-in-law, and a mother. She’s also a sister whose brother doesn’t recognize her with makeup on.

I remember in Episode 2, our JungWoo rudely insinuated that her orabeoni had profited from her marriage.

Her brother: I am Jeong SoonGoo, the eldest son of Jeong YeonMoo, the border security officer.
JungWoo: (because he has a photographic memory) Right. You must be in-laws with the rumored Left State Minister. If you gained an office by selling your sister, you should study even if you made it in.

As a matchmaker, she’s only known by that impersonal name, Yeojudaek, which means a “woman from Yeoju.” Ha! Can you imagine calling @Growing_Beautifully as “Singaporean” or agdr03 as “Australian”? Then, in her household, the servants call her “Young Madam” to differentiate her from the real lady of the manor, Lady SoHyun.

So, it’s significant that in Episode 7,  JungWoo asked for her name. He’s the first one to show interest in her as a person.

JungWoo: What is your name?
SoonDeok: (no answer)
JungWoo: Do you not want to tell me? By chance, do you not have a name?
SoonDeok: (smiling at his shocked expression) You are the first one to ever ask my name since I started working as a peddler.
JungWoo: (clearing his throat out of embarrassment) Think of it as an honor. I will ask you one more time. What is your name?
SoonDeok: My name is…Soon Deok.
JungWoo: Soon Deok. That is a pretty name. And your age?
SoonDeok: I am two years older than you, Your Excellency.
Jungwoo: Twenty-seven. But how did you know my age?
SoonDeok: Were you not born in the Year of the Black Monkey?

Hmmm…It’s fascinating that SoonDeok has memorized the 12 years in the lunar calendar. Back in Episode 3, she spotted the seal on painting that the mother of the Three Spinsters hung on the wall and immediately knew that it was painted five years go in the Year of the White Rabbit. I wonder if this unique character trait of hers will have any bearing on JungWoo’s quest for annulment of his marriage to the former Princess.

SoonDeok: (teasing him) You are a famous celebrity in Hanyang.
JungWoo: What? As the Resentful Man?

Lol. He resents being known as the “Resentful Man.”

JungWoo: That is not fair. I must know about you as well.
SoonDeok: Like what?
JungWoo: All of it.
SoonDeok: (pausing) For what? Once this matchmaking ends, we will never see each other again.

It was so obvious from her long silence that she was sorely tempted by the idea of getting to know each other very well. But then, reality set in. She couldn’t let him know her true identity.

source: liveasbutterflies’ tumblr

Let’s enjoy the show.