Abstract

This paper examines Tongyeong Hyangyak, which was implemented in 1846 by Baek Eun-jin, a Commander-in-Chief of the Samdo Naval Force who was in charge of three provinces in the South. Tongyeong Hyangyak was administered mainly in the area of Chunwon-myeon, Goseong-hyeon, where Samdo Naval Base was located. As Chunwon-myeon’s governance was centered around the naval base, it was distinguished Chunwon-myeon from other regions. In fact, with a local administrative perspective, it is just one of many districts belonged to Goseong-hyeon. However, with the population perspective, it had as much influence as an independent administrative district. In 1846, Baek Eun-jin implemented the Tongyeong Hyangyak to edify the people with the customs promoted by the society. The unique features of the operation of Tongyeong Hyangyak are as follows. First, the recording of good, Sunjuk, and bad, Gwajuk, behaviors was emphasized. The names to be listed on Sunjuk and Gwajuk were decided after consulting with various people at myeon-unit meetings or li-unit meetings. Moreover, the extraordinary feature of Tongyeong Hyangyak is even those who belonged to the bottom of the social hierarchy, if a person had a potential to contribute to the society such as excellent skills in writing or outstanding martial arts skills could be recorded in Sunjuk. In addition, it had a rule which allowed some of them to be released from their social classes after. Second, the executives of Tongyeong Hyangyak consist of the Kyojang, Jibhun and Jikwol. and this structure was formed so that Hyangyak could be implemented even to the residents of the smallest administrative districts. Third, Tongyeong Hyangyak had a myeon-unit meeting and li- unit meeting. Also, on the 1st of every month, the members of hyangyak gathered in each village to listen to the contents of hyangyak. These meetings were observed at random by Dokyojang and Bookyojang.(ChungAng University)

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