고려대학교

초록/요약

The yeokgwan (役官) system was one through which government posts called chamgjik (參職, sixth rank government posts or lower)were granted in exchange for silver or the assumption of the responsibility for paying the funds demanded by a government agency. Government posts managed based on the yeokgwan (役官)system included those of munha noksa (門下錄事, lowest position within the Chancellery for State Affairs), jungseo juseo (中書注書,junior seventh rank post within the Chancellery for State Affairs),and chumil danghugwan (樞密堂後官, seventh rank post within the Royal Secretariat). These posts were occupied by the sons and son in laws of wealthy members of the local gentry (sajok). In addition to their own work duties, individuals who held the post of munha noksa (門下錄事) and chumil danghugwan (樞密堂後官) were responsible for securing the funds needed to carry out the Palgwanhoe (八關會,Festival of the Eight Vows) and Yeondeunghoe (燃燈會, Lotus Lamp Ceremony), as well as for coming up with the funds required by the secretaries responsible for personnel administration to conduct socalled night duties. In this regard, although it represented the fastest way to be promoted to a junior sixth rank post (chamsang), several individuals refused to accept appointments to such posts because of the massive economic burden involved. The financial resources needed to purchase these government posts were regularly secured by selling off family property. While certain individuals borrowed some of the necessary funds from others, others even sunk to the point of forcibly collecting the necessary resources from the people. The yeokgwan (役官) system was differently applied depending on the government posts involved. For example, while those holding the post of munha noksa (門下錄事) or chumil danghugwan (樞密堂後官) were guaranteed a promotion to the post of chamsang once they had provided the funds required by the pertinent government agency,officials at the Gwonmugwan level who held posts higher than that of imnok were promoted to junior sixth rank posts (chamsang) after they had doled out specific amounts of silver. However, changes were wrought to the yeokgwan system during the late and final periods of Goryeo. For example, responsibility for the yeokgwan system was assumed by the head of the three agencies (dogam) or the noksa (錄事,senior fifth rank posts) from the five militaries. In addition, seung and ryeong posts within the Three Censorate Offices (samsa), Provincial Governor (dosa)’s Office, Naewonseo (內園署, Office of Royal Horticulture and Gardening) and Seongwanseo (膳官署, Office of Royal Rituals and Court Banquets) were also made subject to the yeokgwan system. However, while the individuals who belonged to the Chancellery for State Affairs (munhaseong), Three Censorate Offices (samsa), and Royal Secretariat (chumilwon) were eligible for a promotion to junior sixth rank posts (chamsang) after one year in accordance with the principle of annual promotion to a higher rank (junyeon chamjik), those who held seung and ryeong posts within the Naewonseo (內園署, Office of Royal Horticulture and Gardening) and Seongwanseo (膳官署, Office of Royal Rituals and Court Banquets) did not enjoy the same benefits. The yeokgwan system was an institution through which the state and government agencies were able to secure economic resources in exchange for the provision of government posts known as chamgjik (參職). However, it was only available to certain individuals,namely the children of prestigious family clans or member of the local gentry (sajok). The fact that access to the yeokgwan system was limited to individuals from specific classes can be regarded as the main difference between this particular system and the napsok bogwanje (納粟補官制, selling official titles and ranks in exchange for fixed amounts of grain) through which anyone who possessed the economic wherewithal could enter the bureaucracy. In this regard, the traditional <Seolgwan jiui (設官之義)> makes it clear that fundamental problems existed where the practice of securing government resources from the coffers of private individuals was concerned. Nevertheless, the fact that the yeokgwan system revolving around core government agencies such as the Chancellery for Internal Affairs (jungseoseong) and Chancellery for State Affairs (munhaseong) and individuals from specific social classes remained in place for a prolonged period of time can be regarded as one of the unique characteristics of Goryeo’s government system.