공민왕대 인사정책 연구 －재위전반기(~1365), 재추의 겸직 및 전직 양상에 대한 검토를 중심으로－

Abstract

Examined in this article is King Gongmin(1351-1374)’s two decades of personnel appointment policy, with a focus on his reign’s early half, which we can observe through the tendency in his assigning posts of the Six Ministries, the Chief Remonstration office and the “Samsa” office of Finance to the Jaeshin and Miljik entities, in a unique fashion compared to those of previous kings. His reign could be divided into four separate periods：from his enthronement till June 1356 as Stage 1, till 1362 as Stage 2, till 1365 as Stage 3, and Stage 4, during which he showed a complete turnover of his prior stance. In this article, stages 1 through 3 receive special attention. In Stage 1, in order to reinforce in his rulership, Gongmin provided the Jaeshin entities with authority over the Remonstration office, while reconfirming the Miljik entities’ status as eligible to oversee the Six Ministries. Then in Stage 2 he slightly modified his previous policy by separating both the Jaeshin and Miljik from the Remonstration office, while granting both of them limited influence upon the Six ministries, in an apparent attempt to weaken their power altogether, with a distinctive agenda which was also reflected in his other policies, such as creating internal divisions within the Jaeshin ranks and creating a Naeshibu office that could somewhat overlap in function with the Miljik. Then in Stage 3, Gongmin yet again granted the Jaeshin and Miljik ministers full access and complete control over all the three aforementioned branches, seemingly in an attempt to promote swift and significant reforms throughout the government. Yet in Stage 4, he completely discontinued such policy, probably because he was severely disappointed by lack of accomplishments, and feeling utter distrust toward the vassals’ community.