18~19세기 재해의 발생과 위유어사의 역할

Abstract

Examined in this article is the state’s role in dealing with natural disasters, and the meaning of such actions. Natural disasters tend to affect the people’s lives in a rather harsh fashion, and unlike the modern society in which efforts are made to minimize the damages from such occurrences, premodern societies rather tried to restore their original status, and as soon as possible. <BR> In the Joseon society of the 18th and 19th centuries, whenever a natural disaster would hit a particular region, a relief effort targeting that region would be made to feed the famished local population. Yet oftentimes it was difficult for the local authorities to effectively respond to the situation, as they were usually not equipped to handle situations such as cases of major river flooding that would result in the loss of many households and the residents turned into homeless, or huge fires in crowded areas which would inevitably burn down hundreds of thatched-roof houses. In such cases, the central government had to dispatch Eosa(御史) figures to address the situation.<BR> Among all these Eosa officials sent by the government, the Wiyu Eosa figures were the ones who were dispatched to ‘care for the people’ in the region and ‘alleviate their pain.’ Sending them was also an effort to send a message to the region, effectively saying that the government will take care of them. The government did so because it was necessary for it to prevent the local population from abandoning their hometowns and becoming refugees, and even Official decrees(曉諭文) from the King himself would be issued in regions under more dire circumstances, so that they could believe the King was aware of their plights and would eventually help them out. In a manner of speaking, the dispatching of these Wiyu Oesa figures was another display of the King’s own benevolent governance, signifying the King’s resolve to relieve the pain of the people.