Joseon Dynasty Politics - Local Government

Local Government

The ranked officials were sent from the central government. Sometimes a secret royal inspector (Amhaeng-eosa, 암행어사) was sent to travel incognito and monitor the provincial officials. Secret inspectors were generally young officials of lower rank but invested with royal authority to dismiss corrupt officials.

• Provinces: (Do, 도) - There were eight provinces, each of them governed by a Governor (Gwanchalsa, 관찰사), a position of junior second rank.
• Special cities: Bu(부) - administrative offices in charge of five major cities in provinces. Each Bu was led by a Buyoon (부윤), which was equivalent to Governor in rank.
• Departments: Mok (목) - There were twenty moks, which governed large counties named 'ju'(주). They were governed by Moksa (목사), of senior third rank.
• Counties: (Gun, 군) - There were eighty counties in Joseon, each governed by Gunsu (군수), a junior fourth rank.
• Settlements or communities: Hyeon (현) - Large hyeons were governed by Hyeongryeong (현령) of junior fifth rank while smaller hyeons were governed by Hyeonggam (현감) of junior sixth rank.

Each county and hyeon was overseen by a local magistrate appointed by the central government. The yangban of each county (gun) composed a Local Office. This interacted with local officials, typically of a lower class, who were known as hyangni. The hyangni typically served for life in hereditary posts. The hyangni of each county had an ambassador in the capital who was charged with communicating among them and the central government .