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The Political Phase and Function of Pibyŏnsa

  • The Review of Korean History
  • 2008, (91), pp.225-259
  • Publisher : The Historical Society Of Korea
  • Research Area : Humanities > History

이재철 1

1대구광역시교육청

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Pibyŏnsa, founded with the incident of Imjinwaeran(The Japanese Invasion), provided the establishment and basis for Sarim politics in the 17th century, later accepting general social changes brought about in the latter half of Choseon Dynasty and changing its roles. In the 17th century, Pibyŏnsa was the place where high-ranking officials discussed and held numerous conferences on primary national policies, and played an important part in Sarim politics, to which checks and balances were applied with regard to the management and several power structures. In this era, Pibyŏnsa was an important government office, which helped get over successive national crises, such as Imjinwaeran, and effectively coped with new social changes, which were hard to deal with under Gyeonggookdaejeon systems, and played a positive role in taking numerous discussions in the political administration. With the incrementing conflicts among political factions during King Sookjong's regime, however, and the breakdown of checks and balances among political power groups, the function of Pibyŏnsa accordingly changed. Apparently, Pibyŏnsa had all the systems organized and its functions reinforced, certain factions tried to carried through their interests by using it, almost hampering discussions on political administation in it. These phenomena got more deteriorated during King Pibyŏnsa, slowing down the function of Bibyeonsa and gradually abolishing the reception of diverse opinions. King Yeongjo and King Jeongjo, in an effort to disband factional politics, resolve conflicts among them, and take the leadership in political management, tried to take advantage of Pibyŏnsa's Chadae. In addition, a distinguished power group took their position in Pibyŏnsa, reflecting the interests of minor family clans and seized national administration, causing the centralization of power among power structures. Consequently, with the disappearance of powerful royal authority and the appearance of political management era by specific powerful family clans, these clans used Pibyŏnsa as the basis of political monopoly. So Pibyŏnsa was regarded as the first target to overthrow. In brief, Pibyŏnsa was the supreme political structure for 300 years during the latter period of Choseon Dynasty, taking in interests among political power groups and social changes, and changes its political phase and function.

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