The Baekjeong Class

Abstract

In the early Joseon period, a wide range of classes belonged to the category of yangin . The majority of yangin were commoners; above them were the yangban, the civil and military officials who constituted the elite of the country, and below them were the so-called sillyangyeokcheon . But among the sillyangyeokcheon , there were those who did not associate with the common people; they were called baekjeong . In the early Joseon period, the baekjeong were not targets of contempt as they were in the late Joseon period. A major factor behind the change in attitudes toward baekjeong was the government's discriminatory policies. The baekjeong faced even more severe contempt in society. It is true that the baekjeong , who were treated not much better than animals themselves, were mainly engaged in occupations involving butchering or slaughtering animals. Baekjeong tended to live frugally since they faced discrimination, and some of them became quite wealthy. Keywords: baekjeong class; Joseon period; sillyangyeokcheon ; social discrimination; yangban; yangin