122 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
shall provide relief to poor and starving people, reducing their corvée obli-
gations.
“1. The system that requires rotating clerks (kiin), support staff (maksa),
and selected soldiers (sŏn’gun), who were all recruited from the local dis-
tricts, to serve in the capital,^46 carried out its function properly when it was
originally established, but over time it degenerated and became abusive.
They are forced to work like slaves, so they feel a great deal of resentment
and complaint. Hence, this system must be abolished.
“1. It is necessary and proper for the state to spend money and grain to
carry out its functions. Various state granaries, including those in Ŭisŏng
and Tŏkch’ŏn,^47 and the agencies in charge of royal families, shall have the
accounting of their revenue and expenditure supervised by the State
Financial Commission and also inspected by the Office of the Inspector-
General, as is the case of the P’ungjŏ and Kwanghŭng Granaries.^48
“1. The purpose of establishing post stations and guesthouses is to facili-
tate the transmission of government orders, but these days the people who
travel for such purposes have increased so drastically that the posts cannot
be maintained properly. The situation is truly deplorable. Henceforth, except
those who travel on the orders of the king or on official business and are
provided with travel expenses, anyone who travels for private purposes shall
not be supplied with facilities and amenities regardless of his rank. If this
order is violated, both providers and recipients will be punished together.
“1. Since the seamen on battleships are risking their lives and struggling
to repulse the enemy, they need to be taken care of. The districts concerned
shall exempt them from corvée labor and increase the number of support
taxpayers (choho or pong jok) so that they can board the ship in rotation and
provide relief to the duty soldiers. If they [duty soldiers or seamen] catch
fish or produce salt, they shall be allowed to keep the profits made from
their work; the government shall not seize them.- Kiin, according to James Palais, refers to the “rotating clerks from local districts
responsible for wood and fuel supplies to capital bureaus” (p. 1166). They were originally the
sons of local officials whom the central government used as advisors for local affairs, but they
were actually hostages held for political purposes. Maksa were support staff in government
offices. Sŏn’gun, according to Palais, refers to “selected soldiers, provided with land grants”
(p. 1183). But it is also possible that the term refers to the office in charge of recruiting soldiers
during the Koryŏ period. - Located in North Kyŏngsang Province and South Ch’ungch’ŏng Province, respec-
t ively. - Located in Hanyang (Seoul).