Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 250

250. Signboard Change or Rebirth? (1)

In the 13th year of Sejong’s reign (1431, Sinhye Year), the court was bustling with activity from the very beginning of January.

Part of this busyness stemmed from the start of the new year, but it was also due to the long-awaited implementation of the court’s reorganization.

“First, the State Council will be renamed the Ministry of State Affairs. Its primary function will be to oversee and direct all state affairs.”

Sejong initiated the changes by renaming the State Council, thus altering the fundamental structure of the court.

It was a change that could truly be called ‘unprecedented’.

– The State Council is renamed the Ministry of State Affairs.

– The Chief State Councilor is renamed the Prime Minister, and the Left and Right State Councilors are renamed Left and Right Deputy Prime Ministers.

– The duties of the Ministry of State Affairs are to oversee and direct the administrative organizations and to coordinate conflicts that arise between departments.

– The Ministry of Personnel is renamed the Ministry of General Affairs.

– The duties of the Ministry of General Affairs are to oversee all administrative affairs throughout Joseon.

– Education, taxation, justice, military affairs, and public order are excluded from the administrative affairs directed by the Ministry of General Affairs.

– The Ministry of Taxation is renamed the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

– Affairs related to the budget are separated from the Ministry of Taxation.

(Omitted)

According to these policies, the Six Ministries (六曹), which had been modeled after the systems of Chinese states such as the Tang and Song dynasties, had to change their names and undergo a tumultuous period of merging and splitting.

These changes were met with both enthusiasm and resistance from the working officials. However, most officials, particularly those in the Ministry of Rites, were largely welcoming.

As the Ministry of Rites was divided into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, most officials within the Ministry of Rites welcomed the reorganization.

“Yesterday, I was reviewing matters related to diplomacy, and today, I was looking at matters related to education, but now I only have to focus on one.”

“Concentration will also increase… But the best part is…”

As the organization was divided and the workload became more specialized, the officials harbored a hopeful expectation.

“The intensity of work will decrease, and overtime will definitely be reduced!”

Hearing the optimistic atmosphere among these officials, Hyang smirked and muttered.

“Will it really?”

* * *

The core principles behind the government reorganization carried out by Sejong were ‘differentiation’, ‘specialization’, and ‘clear specification of responsibilities’.

For example, the Ministry of Punishments was divided into the Ministry of Justice, the National Police Agency, and the Supreme Court.
The Ministry of Justice was responsible for tasks such as revising laws over time and reviewing the expiration of obsolete laws.
The National Police Agency was responsible for maintaining public order throughout the country, including Hanseong [the capital city], and the Supreme Court was the final court of appeals, where judgments were made based on the legal code.

By dividing one department into several and clearly defining areas of responsibility, officials were able to clearly understand the tasks they were responsible for.

* * *

Although the overall trend of the reorganization was ‘differentiation’, there were also instances where ‘integration’ occurred.

The Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Censors were integrated. Sejong combined these offices to create an audit organization called the ‘Board of Audit and Inspection (監査院)’.

The responsibilities of the Board of Audit and Inspection included inspecting court officials and investigating complaints raised by the people.

However, one particular responsibility was added that made not only court officials but even Hyang widen their eyes.

“Protection for public interest whistleblowers?”

The bill created by Sejong clearly stipulated the state’s protection for those who reported wrongdoing for the public good.

– Internal whistleblowers who report corruption related to official duties will be granted a promotion of at least 2 ranks and up to 3 ranks, depending on the severity of the report. In addition, retaliatory measures such as demotion to sinecures are prohibited.

All these measures are reported to the king.

The reason for establishing this method was to prevent ostracism against internal whistleblowers.

If there was no change in rank or only one rank was raised, it was clear that they would be ostracized. However, if they were raised by about 3 ranks, they would not be treated carelessly.

In addition, in order to prevent retaliation by raising their rank but sending them to sinecures [positions with no real duties], all measures were reported to the king.

This protection for internal whistleblowers was also clearly applied to the private sector.

– In civil affairs, those who report for the public interest are protected by law.

The state investigates the situation every six months to ensure that the whistleblower does not suffer disadvantages in making a living and reports it to the king.

In addition, even if it is not a regular investigation period, the state investigates the situation at any time if the king orders it and reports it to the king.

If it is confirmed that a public interest whistleblower is being treated unfairly, the state must strictly hold the perpetrators accountable.

Because the Board of Audit and Inspection was given such powerful authority, strict standards were also set for the selection of personnel.

Those who have worked in 실무 [practical affairs] administrative organizations for more than 10 years, whose work performance is excellent, and who are 청백 [upright and honest].

Those who have passed the civil service examination and worked for more than 6 months, who are healthy in body and mind, diligent, and 청백 [upright and honest].

In short, those who have worked in 실무 [practical affairs] organizations for more than 10 years and know the 업무 [work] well and have no scandals, or those who are newly passed recruits who are diligent and sincere, were assigned to audit 업무 [work].

Of course, since reports submitted in writing could not be completely trusted, officials belonging to the Board of Audit and Inspection secretly monitored the candidates.

Sejong also used the Geomgye (검계) [secret inspectors].

However, Sejong did not stop there.

– Those who report corruption within the Board of Audit and Inspection will be promoted from a minimum of 3 ranks to a maximum of 5 ranks.

This was a pre-emptive measure to prevent corruption by Board of Audit and Inspection officials through mutual inspection within the Board of Audit and Inspection.

Many officials protested that this measure was too harsh, but Sejong proceeded with it as it was.

“If you are not committing corruption, it shouldn’t matter, should it?”

At Sejong’s point, the officials had to shut their mouths.

Of course, it was only natural that punishment for false accusations was also clearly stipulated.

Those who made false accusations recklessly would basically have their families ruined, and in severe cases, they would have to do hard labor in mines for more than 10 years.

* * *

Lee Jik, who was examining the matters related to the government reorganization being carried out in this way, smacked his lips and muttered.

“I wonder what kind of expression Grand Scholar Ryu Jeong-hyeon would have if he saw this.”

“Shh!”

“Ahem!”

Meng Sa-seong looked around and warned him, and Lee Jik coughed exaggeratedly and shut his mouth.

The change that occurred through the reorganization carried out by Sejong was the ‘transfer of royal authority’.

The decision on important national policies was made at the ‘State Council’, which was attended by the king, the prime minister of the State Council, the left and right deputy prime ministers, and the ministers of each department.

Of course, this was something that had been done before.

The morning assembly that Sejong and his ministers held every day in Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbok Palace] was exactly that.

However, what fundamentally changed was that it was clearly stipulated that ‘policies are decided through meetings and consultations between the king and his subjects’.

In addition, the personnel rights of each department were transferred to each department and the Ministry of General Affairs. When each department passed matters related to personnel changes to the Ministry of General Affairs, the Ministry of General Affairs organized them and submitted them to the king.

The king only had to confirm this.

As the powerful authority of personnel rights was transferred, the responsibility also became heavier.

If 비위 (misconduct) was detected by the Board of Audit and Inspection or through internal whistleblowing and the facts were confirmed, the future of those involved was one of two things.

Confiscation of property followed by a trip to the records office, or confiscation of property followed by a trip to the mines.

Through these various clauses and policies, a significant portion of power was transferred to the 조정 [court], but Sejong held on to what he thought was absolutely necessary.

The right to independently manage royal property, the authority to operate the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the right to refuse budget execution.

Sejong, who had 미리 박은 (set in stone) that ‘royal property should not be increased recklessly’, prevented interference in the management of royal property.

The same was true of the Board of Audit and Inspection. Although it was a 원 (institute) below the 성 (province) and 부 (ministry), the head of the Board of Audit and Inspection attended the ‘State Council’.

In addition, by having the right to refuse budget execution, he checked the 독주 (reckless actions) of his subjects.

And he kept silent about the ‘Geomgye’, assigning them the role of a ‘hidden sword’.

One of the reasons for insisting on the independent operation of royal property was the operation of this Geomgye.

By protecting what he had to protect and passing on what he had to pass on, Sejong reduced the burden of 업무 [work] that he (the king) had to handle.

It was a golden opportunity to reduce his 업무 [work] burden while being able to 생색 (take credit) through 책임 추궁 (holding accountable) for the success or failure of policies.

The ministers were not unaware of this. However, no one was foolish enough to oppose the king sharing and transferring power.

“I know it’s a 독배 (poisoned chalice), but… I have no choice but to drink it!”

In the end, it was because of these circumstances that Lee Jik mentioned Ryu Jeong-hyeon. He was curious about what kind of reaction Ryu Jeong-hyeon, who advocated ‘harmony between royal authority and 신권 (ministerial power)’ and ‘republican politics’, would have.

‘Will he praise it as an ideal reform? Or will he criticize it as 눈 가리고 아웅 (deceiving oneself)?’

This was the common thought of the veteran ministers who knew Ryu Jeong-hyeon and those who had been purged with him.

* * *

Meanwhile, Sejong called Hyang and asked for his impressions on this.

“What do you think?”

“It is something that Abamama (아바마마, term for father) has done. How can I 함부로 (recklessly) evaluate it?”

Sejong narrowed his eyes at Hyang’s answer.

“Don’t give me lip service, answer properly.”

‘씨! [Damn it!] Just let it go! The hurdles are getting higher these days!’

Forgetting all the things he had done, Hyang grumbled inwardly, cleared his throat, and answered.

“A 뛰어난 (outstanding) king will control his subjects, a 범용 (mediocre) king will 협의 (consult) with his subjects, and a 무능한 (incompetent) king will be 휘둘릴 (swayed) by his subjects.”

“Is that so? Then what should a king do?”

“Shouldn’t he 절차탁마 (constantly refine himself) without 쉬지 (rest)?”

“You know well.”

Sejong answered with a mysterious smile at Hyang’s answer.

However, the ministers who saw Sejong’s smile all had the same thought at the same time.

‘It’s a warning.’

‘It’s a warning.’

‘It’s a warning not to be 기고만장 (elated) and 날뛰지 (run wild) just because power has been 양보 (conceded).’

‘His Majesty and the Crown Prince both…. At least until the Crown Prince passes the throne to the Crown Prince, we won’t be able to 꼼짝 (budge).’

The ministers, who realized the warning sent by Sejong and Hyang’s conversation, shook their heads slightly.

The same was true for Hyang.

‘Is it a warning not to 신경 (pay attention) to other things? Should I slowly 접어야 (give up) my 덕질 (fan activities) [fanboying]?’

* * *

After that, the meeting continued with various agendas as topics. When a 분위기 (atmosphere) of 파장 (ending) began to linger, Sejong suddenly asked Hyang a question.

“By the way, Crown Prince.”

“Ask me.”

“I became curious about the 서이 (Westerners) and read the books they wrote.”

“Yes.”

“But when I looked at those books, the 서법 (calligraphy) was unique? We use 우종서 (right vertical writing), but they use 좌횡서 (left horizontal writing), so what do you think is the reason?”

“Isn’t it because the characters they use are more suitable for 횡서 (horizontal writing)?”

“Is that so? Then which one do you think is more comfortable to look at?”

Hyang closed his mouth at Sejong’s question.

After organizing his thoughts for a while, Hyang opened his mouth and answered Sejong’s question.

“When a person looks at things, it is common to look at the whole first, then from left to right, and then from top to bottom. In that case, wouldn’t 좌횡서 (left horizontal writing) be a little more comfortable?”

“I see? I understand. Let’s stop here today.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer and ended the meeting.

Hyang, who came out, tilted his head.

“I see? Besides, why all of a sudden?”

But a sense of 위기감 (crisis) swept down his spine.

Meanwhile, the 사관 (historian) who recorded all of this added the following.

– The 사관 [historian] says.

何(Why?)