Yeonguijeong Explained

Imgwidth:190
Hangul:영의정/영상/상상/수규/원보
Hanja:////
Rr:yeong-uijeong[1] / sangsang/ sugyu/ wonbo
Mr:yŏng'ŭijŏng/sangsang/sukyu/wonbo

Yeonguijeong (; pronounced as /ko/) was a title created in 1400, during the Joseon and Korean Empire periods (1392–1910), and given to the Chief State Councillor[2] as the highest government position of "Uijeongbu" (State Council). Existing for over 500 years, the function was handed over in 1895 during the Gabo Reform to the newly formed position of the Prime Minister of Korea.[3] [4] Only one official at a time was appointed to the position and though was generally called Yeongsang, was also referred to as Sangsang, Sugyu or Wonbo. Although the title of Yeonguijeong was legally defined as the highest post in charge of all state affairs, its practical functions changed drastically depending on the particular King and whether that King's power was strong or weak.

History

Establishment

The Korean Joseon inherited the state structure of its predecessor, the Goryeo (918–1392), but soon began to reorganize the government. In 1400, the second year after King Jeongjong ascended to the throne, he renamed the Privy Council or Dopyeonguisasa,[5] the highest assigned post in charge of the state affairs of Goryeo, to "Uijeongbu" and let the post be called "yeonguijeong busa" (領議政府事). As both functions of Uijeongbu got stronger, and its system was further revised, Yeonguijeong busa was renamed to Yeonguijeong in a firm establishment of the office.

In 1466, the position was officially put in statutory form as Gyeongguk daejeon (Complete Code of Law)[6] was compiled.[7] The Yeongjuijeong title was generally conferred on a senior minister who had previously served as Jwauijeong (Left State Councilor[8]), a post immediately below that of Yeonguijeong, but higher than that of Uuijeong (Right State Councillor[9]). The three posts were collectively referred to as "Samjeongseung" 삼정승 [10] or "Samuijeong" (Three High Councillors).

Changes in the role

Until April 1436, the 18th year of Sejong the Great's reign, Jwauijeong and Uuijeong concurrently served as Panijosa (判吏曹事) and Panbyeongjosa (判兵曹事) respectively, so that they governed personnel affairs of yangban (the literary and military nobility).

Yeonguijeong continued to exist as an honorary post, and so only managed to contemplate and adjust diplomatic documents or re-examine the cases of condemned people.

However, when Hwang Hui was appointed as "Yeonguijeong busa" in that same year, the king modified the government system to strengthen the power of Samjeongseung from the Yukjo (Six Ministries) centered system. With the reform, Sejong noted that a situation in which three highest senior advisors could not participate in the state affairs contravened the original intention to have them as the high state councillors.

During the reform, Yukjo conferred with Uijeongbu regarding the responsibilities of each minister. Uijeongbu discussed legitimacy of the issues, and then reported to the king. After receiving an approval from the king, Uijeongbu returned to Yujo to enact the assigned affairs. As a result, Yeonguijeong came to participate more actively in the representative work as the head of Uijeongbu. However, other ministerial duities, such as the rights of Ijo (吏曹; Ministry of Personnel[11]) and Byeongjo (兵曹, Ministry of Military Affairs[12]) to implement personnel management, Byeongjo's mobilization of soldiers, Hyeongjo (刑曹, Ministry of Punishments[13])'s right to handle all criminals other than condemned people, were still directly operated by the related ministers.

When Prince Suyang usurped the place of his nephew, King Danjong, the function of Yeonguijeong was relegated to its previous powerless position. This was because when the King Sejo was still a prince, his actions were greatly restricted by his political rivals, Yeonguijeong, Hwangbo In (皇甫仁) and Jwauijeong, Kim Jongseo (金宗瑞). So during the reigns of King Seongjong and Jungjong, there were several proposals to restore the former powers of Uijeongbu, but those suggestions were not implemented.

Major affairs of the state were discussed when Bibyeonsa was established in 1558 (during the 10th year of King Myeongjong's reign). The three High Councillors attended meetings only as "Dojejo" (Supreme Commissioner[14] [15]). So the power of Yeonguijeong tended to be increased or decreased, depending on the political atmosphere of the times, such as the degree of the king's power, the relationship between Uijeongbu and Yukjo, the establishment of Bibyeonsa (備邊司; Border Defense Command[16]), the later administration of Kyujanggak (the Royal Library), the conflicts between political parties, and the advancement of "in-law government" (勢道政治, Sedo jeongchi[17]), among others. Regardless, the title "Yeonguijeong" continued as the apex in the bureaucratic system throughout the entire Joseon period.

List of Joseon Yeonguijeong

Reign King Date Chief State Councillor Hangul
11392–1398Taejo11392/07/17Jeong Dojeon정도전
21398–1400Jeongjong
31400–1418Taejong11401/07/13-1402/4/18Yi Seo이서
21402/04/18-1402/11/07Yi Geo-yi이거이
31402/10/04Seong Seok-rin성석린
41403/07/16Jo Jun조준
51405/07/03Seong Seok-rin2성석린
61406/12/04Yi Seo2이서
71407/07/04-1408/01/03Grand Prince Uian의안대군 (이화)
81408/05/27-1412/08/21Ha Ryun하륜
91409/08/10Yi Seo3이서
101408/10/11Ha Ryun2하륜
111412/08/21Seong Seok-rin3성석린
121414/04/17Ha Ryun3하륜
131415/10/28Seong Seok-rin4성석린
141416/05/25Nam Jae남재
151416/11/02Yu Jung-hyun유정현
161418/06/05Han Sanggyung한상경
41418–1450Sejong11418/09/03Sim On심온
21418/12/07Yu Jung-hyun2유정현
31424/09/07Yi Jig이직
41431/09/07Hwang Hui황희
51449/10/05-1451/07/13Ha Yeon하연
51450–1452Munjong11451/10/27Hwangbo In황보인
61452–1455Danjong11453/10/11Grand Prince Suyang (King Sejo)수양대군 (이유)
71455–1468Sejo11455/06/11Jeong In-ji정인지
21458/12/07Jeong Changson정창손
31459/11/05Gang Maenggyung강맹경
41461/04/29Jeong Changson2정창손
51461/05/20Shin Suk-ju신숙주
61466/04/18Gu Chigwan구치관
71466/10/19Han Myung-hoi한명회
81467/04/06Hwang Su-sin황수신
91467/05/20Sim Hoe심회
101467/12/12Jo Seok-mun조석문
111468/07/17Guseonggun구성군 (이준)
81468–1469Yejong11468/12/20Bak Wonhyung박원형
21469/01/23Han Myung-hoi2한명회
31469/08/22Hong Yun-seong홍윤성
91469–1494Seongjong11470/04/06Yun Jaun윤자운
21471/10/23Shin Suk-ju2신숙주
31475/07/01Jeong Changson3정창손
41485/03/28Yun Pilsang윤필상
51493/11/06Yi Geugbae이극배
101494–1506Yeonsangun11495/03/20No Sasin노사신
21495/10/04Shin Sung-seon신승선
31500/04/11Han Chi-hyung한치형
41503/01/04Seong Jun성준
51504/04/04Yu Sun유순
111506–1544Jungjong11506/09/2Park Won-jong박원종
21510/03/06Kim Sudong김수동
31512/10/07Yu Sun-jung유순정
41513/04/02Seong Hui-ahn성희안
51513/10/27Song Il송일
61514/10/01Yu Sun2유순
71516/04/09Jeong Gwangpil정광필
81520/02/14Kim Jeon김전
91523/04/18Nam Gon남곤
101527/10/21Jeong Gwangpil2정광필
11Nam Gon2남곤
121527/03/10Jang Sun-son장순손
131534/11/20Han Hyo-won한효원
141535/03/26Kim Geun-sa김근사
151537/11/02Yun Eunbo윤은보
121544–1545Injong11545/01/13Hong Eon-pil홍언필
21545/01/06Yun In-gyung윤인경
131545–1567Myeongjong11548/05/17Hong Eon-pil2홍언필
21549/05/21Yi Gi이기
31551/08/23Sim Yeon-won심연원
41558/05/29San Gjin상진
51563/01/17Yun Won-hyung윤원형
61565/08/15Yi Jungyung이준경
141567–1608Seonjo11573/03/22Gwon Cheol권철
21574/04/11Hong Seom홍섬
31576/08/18Gwon Cheol2권철
41580/05/25Bak Sun박순
51588/05/11No Sunsin노수신
6Choi Hung-won최흥원
7Yi Won-ik이원익
8Ryu Seong-ryong유성룡
9Yun Doo-su윤두수
10Yi San-hae이산해
11Yi Hang-bok이항복
12Yun Sung-hun윤승훈
13Yu Yung-gyung유영경
151608–1623Gwanghaegun11608Yi Won-ik2이원익
2Yi Deok-hyung이덕형
3Gi Ja-heon기자헌
4Chung In-hong정인홍
5Bak Sung-jong박승종
161623–1649Injo11623Yi Won-ik3이원익
2Sin Hum신흠
3Oh Yun-gyum오윤겸
4Yun Bang윤방
5Kim Ryu김류
6Yi Hong-ju이홍주
7Choi Myung-kil최명길
8Yi Seong-gu이성구
9Hong Seo-bong홍서봉
10Sim Yeol심열
11Kim Ja-jeom김자점
171649–1659Hyojong1Kim Ja-jeom2김자점
2Yi Gyung-seok이경석
3Kim Yuk김육
4Yi Si-baek이시백
5Sim Ji-won심지원
6Jeong Tae-hwa정태화
181659–1674Hyeonjong1Jeong Taehwa2정태화
2Hong Myungha홍명하
3Kim Su-hung김수흥
4Heo Jeok허적
191674–1720Sukjong1Heo Jeok2허적
2Kim Seok-ju김석주
3Kim Su-hang김수항
4Gwon Dae-un권대운
5Nam Gu-man남구만
61696–1699Yu Sangun유상운
71700–1701Seo Mun-jung서문중
81701Choi Seok-jung최석정
91702Seo Mun-jung2서문중
101702–1703Choi Seok-jung2최석정
111703–1705Sin Wan신완
121705–1710Choi Seok-jung3최석정
131710Yi Yeo이여
141711–1712Seo Jong-tae서종태
151712–1713Yi Yu이유
161714–1716Seo Jong-tae2서종태
171717–1720Kim Chang-jip2김창집
201720–1724Gyeongjong11720–1721Kim Chang-jip2김창집
21721–1723Jo Tae-gu조태구
31723–1724Choi Gyu-seo최규서
211724–1776Yeongjo11724-1729Yi Gwang-jwa이광좌
21729–1732Hong Chi-jung홍치중
31732–1735Shim Su-yun심수현
41735–1737Yi Ui-hyun이의현
51737–1740Yi Gwang-jwa2이광좌
61740–1754Kim Jae-ro김재로
71754–1758Yi Chun-bo이천보
81758–1759Yu Cheok-ki유척기
91759Yi Chun-bo2이천보
101759–1760Kim Sang-ro김상로
111761–1762Hong Bonghan홍봉한
121762–1763Sim Man신 만
131763–1766Hong Bong-han2홍봉한
141766–1767Seo Ji-su서지수
151767–1768Kim Chi-in김치인
161768Seo Ji-su2서지수
171768Kim Chi-in2김치인
181768–1770Hong Bong-han3홍봉한
191770–1772Kim Chi-in3김치인
201772Kim Sang-bok김상복
211772Sin Hoe신회
221772Kim Sang-bok2김상복
231772Han Ik-mo한익모
241772Kim Sang-bok3김상복
251772–1773Sin Hoe2신회
261773Han Ik-mo2한익모
271773–1774Kim Sang-bok4김상복
281774Han Ik-mo3한익모
291774–1775Sin Hoe3신회
301775Han Ik-mo4한익모
311775–1776Kim Sang-chul김상철
?1731Kim Hung-gyung김흥경 (조선)
?Sin Im신임
?Jeong Ho정호
221776–1800Jeongjo11776–1779Kim Yang-taek김양택
21779–1780Seo Myung-sun서명선
31780–1781Kim Yang-taek2김양택
41781–1783Seo Myung-sun2서명선
51783–1784Jeong Jong-yeom정존겸
61784–1785Seo Myung-sun3서명선
71785–1786Jeong Jong-yeom정존겸
81786–1789Kim Chi-in2김치인
91789Kim Ik김익
101789–1790Yi Jae-hyeop이재협
111790Kim Ik2김익
121790–1793Choi Hyo-won최효원
131793Chae Je-gong채제공
141793–1798Hong Nak-sung홍낙성
151799–1800Yi Byung-mo이병모
?Kim Jong-su김종수
231800–1834Sunjo11800–1802Shim Hwan-ji심환지
21802–1803Yi Si-su이시수
31803–1805Yi Byung-mo이병모
41805–1806Seo Mae-su서매수
51806Yi Byung-mo2이병모
61806–1812vacant
71812–1816Kim Jae-chan김재찬
81816–1819vacant
91819–1821Seo Yong-bo서용보
101821Han Yong-gwi한용귀
111821–1823Kim Jae-chan2김재찬
121823–1833Nam Gong-chul남공철
131833–1834Yi Sang-hwang이상황
241834–1849Heonjong11834–1835Shim Sang-gyu심상규
21835–1837vacant
31837–1838Yi Sang-hwang2이상황
41838–1841vacant
51841–1844Jo In-young조인영
61845–1848Gwon Don-in권돈인
71848–1849Jeong Won-yong정원용
251849–1863Cheoljong11849–1850Jeong Won-yong정원용
21850Jo In-young2조인영
31851–1852Gwon Don-in2권돈인
41853Kim Hunggun김흥근
51853–1859Kim Jwa-geun김좌근
61859–1861Jeong Won-yong2정원용
71861–1862Kim Jwa-geun2김좌근
81862–1863Jeong Won-yong3정원용
261863–1897Gojong11863–1864Kim Jwa-geun2김좌근
21864–1866Jo Du-seon조두선
31866–1867Yi Kyung-jae이경재
41867–1868Kim Byung-hak김병학
51868Jeong Won-yong4정원용
61868–1872Kim Byung-hak2김병학
71872–1873Hong Sun-mok홍순목
81873–1875Yi Yu-won이유원
91875–1882Yi Choi-ung이최응/흥인군
??1878Min Gyu-ho민규호
101882Seo Bang-bo서방보
111882–1884Hong Sun-mok2홍순목
121884Kim Byung-guk김병국
131884–1894Shim Sun-taek심선택
141894Kim Byung-si김병시
151894–1895Kim Hong-jip김홍집
161895Bak Jung-yang박정양
171895-1896/02/11Kim Hong-jip2김홍집
181896Kim Byung-si2김병시
191896–1898Yun Yong-sun윤용순

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 영의정(領議政), yeong-uijeong . . 2009-01-29 . ko, en.
  2. Choi (2006), The Origin of the Roman Catholic Church in Korea p. 375
  3. Web site: http://engdic.daum.net/dicen/contents.do?query1=K577260 . ko:영의정 . Daum Korean-English Dictionary . ko, en.
  4. Web site: http://100.empas.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=K&i=282401&v=45 . ko:영의정 (領議政) . . ko . 2009-01-29 .
  5. Web site: 도평의사사 (都評議使司), Dopyeonguisasa . . 2009-01-31 . ko, en.
  6. Web site: 경국대전(經國大典), Gyeonggukdaejeon . . 2009-01-29 . ko, en.
  7. Book: The Origins of the Chosŏn Dynasty . John B. Duncan . . 2000 . 229 . 0-295-97985-2.
  8. Choi (2006), The Origin of the Roman Catholic Church in Korea p. 372
  9. Web site: 우의정(右議政), uuijeong . . 2009-01-29 . ko, en.
  10. Web site: 정승(政丞), Jeongseung . . 2009-01-29 . ko, en.
  11. Web site: 이조(吏曹), Ijo . 2009-01-31 . . ko, en.
  12. Web site: 병조(兵曹), Byeong-jo . 2009-01-31 . . ko, en.
  13. Web site: 형조(刑曹), Hyeongjo . 2009-01-31 . . ko, en.
  14. Book: James B. Palais . Confucian Statecraft and Korean Institutions: Yu Hyŏngwŏn and the Late Chosŏn Dynasty . . 1996 . 0-295-97455-9 . 1271.
  15. Web site: ko:도제조 (都提調) . http://100.empas.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=267211 . Empas/EncyKorea . ko.
  16. Web site: 비변사(備邊司), Bibyeonsa . . ko, en.
  17. Web site: 세도정치(勢道政治), sedo jeongchi . . ko, en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Yeonguijeong".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.