Kisaengs are neither prostitute nor slaves
Stop putting words in my mouth, I said she's a scort but has the same status as a slave and was basically seem as a prostitute, which is all true
I don't know how to say it in English but in French its like ladies of the court (I guess you don't have word for "courtisane"). They study art, writing and music for the entertainment of the nobles. But they don't have to have sexual intercoursses with them. They are respected and almost nobles themselves.
That's not true at all, kisaeng were cheomin rank, the same as slaves, no matter how studied they were and their daughters had to become kisaengs like them, the only ones that had a bit of privilege were called gwan gi and had relationship with the government, even then, they still raked as cheomin, the lowest rank in social class
Also I know what a courtisane means as I have the same term in my language, most of the times they did had to perform sexual acts even if it was "illegal"and the best prospect for them was to become a concubine for a client as they had to retire before the age of 25, if they can't find that they would go work in bars and in the streets, even after Joseon period were they divided Kisaeng in two level, the lower ones couldn't even perform and the "highest" ones still had the same issues they had during Joseon era, not to mention all of them had to pay for their own expenses (while geishas for example had their expenses paid by the parlour or a Danna/patron)
Thanks cupido for clarifying
There's no safe space for him if we think about it, she's basically a prostitute and has the same status as slaves so Nakyum would easily be hurt or sold if he stays with her, he can't even work cause different from Japan, Korea had female scorts only during that period. With Seungho, on the other hand, he's put into a spotlight of jealousy from other staff of the house and already got kidnnaped once, not to mention Seungho himself that already imposes a threat so he's fucked anyways. Even if he does get protect by Seungho we know that there's already plans to rape him, will Seungho kill the redhead bitch and start a ruckus in the Korean aristocracy? He would probably be punished if we follow a realistic approach so he wouldn't end up with Nakyum :v I think the author is dragging things a lot tbh, even if she plans on putting more characters it's just sad that we lost the erotic painting focused thing that we had to become all about drama