Damo (Korea)

{{Short description|Servant caste in Joseon}}

{{Other uses|Damo (disambiguation)}}

{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}

Damo specifically refers to class of servants during the Joseon period who were considered lower than slaves in their overall ranking within Korean society. Their main responsibility was to serve tea to the gentries. (Damo is literally translated as "Tea Lady".) Damos were also employed in the palace to work as attendants in various government departments.

Historical records have indicated that in certain times, Damos were used as police officers to investigate crime, mostly for adultery and other crimes involving women, where male investigators could not ask questions about the case without causing embarrassment.{{cite web|last=Kim|first=Hyung-eun|title=Joseon cops similar to police today|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2889370|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|accessdate=2013-04-02|date=5 May 2008|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130411050929/http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2889370|archivedate=11 April 2013}} They were required to be " taller than 150 centimeters, be very agile, flexible, lift 40 kilograms of rice, and even withstand large quantities of alcohol without getting drunk."{{cite web|title=KOREAN TV DRAMA REVIEWS: 다모 (茶母, Damo) |url=http://twitchfilm.net/archives/005168.html |work=Twitch Film |accessdate=2013-05-24 |date=16 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080120192126/http://twitchfilm.net/archives/005168.html |archivedate=January 20, 2008 }} The damo carried special identification that verified their authority, and were equipped with a small iron flail that could be used to break down doors and rope to apprehend criminals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.koreanhistory.org/3861|script-title=ko:[죄와 벌의 사회사] '목구멍이 포도청' : 조선 경찰 이야기 | 한국역사연구회}} Arguably, the damo were the first female police with arrest capabilities in the world.

This unique institution was the main inspiration for the 2003 Korean mini-series Damo, which in turn was based on Bang Hak-gi's manhwa Damo Nam-soon.