Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 391

391. Small Changes (3)

Year 15 of Sejong (1433, Gy 축 Year), September.

People flocked to the government offices nationwide for the first time in a long while.

The registration for those taking the upcoming civil service examination had begun.

In the government office of the prefecture [a major administrative division], the central city of each province of Joseon, the head of the General Affairs Department, who was in charge of the civil service examination, was giving instructions to his subordinates.

“Registration will be open for three days starting today, so keep that in mind.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And don’t be foolish enough to accept people who come late with excuses like ‘a tiger blocked the road’ or whatever! As you all know, Gyeongsang Province did that last year and suffered a misfortune, with everyone being dragged to the Archives. You know they won’t be out of there for ten years, right?”

At the mention of ‘Archives,’ the officials’ faces turned pale. With ashen faces, they shouted loudly.

“Yes, sir!”

“So, do your jobs well.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Then go and get to work.”

“Yes, sir!”

Watching the officials hurrying to the registration area, the department head sighed deeply.

“Hoo~. Even though we’ve been announcing it for a month, there will definitely be guys who come on the fourth day and cause a ruckus. There always are, and there will be this year too….”

Notices had been posted in government offices nationwide a month before the civil service examination, and a three-day registration period was given. However, there were always those who showed up after the registration period and demanded to be registered.

“It’s not possible this year, so please look forward to next year. Ah! Next year, calculate the dates well and don’t be late!”

Many people couldn’t hide their disappointment and turned away at the official’s words, but there were always those who couldn’t accept it and caused a disturbance.

And these people were all arrested and fined 10 silver *nyang* [a unit of currency], and at the same time, received the penalty of ‘prohibition from taking the civil service examination for 5 years.’

* * *

“It’s almost time for the gates to open….”

Many people gathered in front of the government office gate, waiting for it to open.

All of them were waiting to register for the civil service examination. From young boys who hadn’t even tied their hair up in a topknot to dignified middle-aged men, men of various ages were waiting for the government office gate to open. And in a place slightly away from the gathered men, women wearing veils or *jeonmo* [a type of Korean hat] and *jangeot* [a long coat worn as an outer garment] were huddled together, waiting for the gate to open.

After a while, the side gate of the government office opened and soldiers rushed out.

“Step back!”

“Step back!”

At the soldiers’ shouts, the people who had crowded right in front of the main gate stepped back.

The soldiers, having pushed the people back, began to divide the space using small pillars and ropes. They had set up a cordon to prevent people from crowding in at once.

Soon after, the government office’s servants brought out desks and chairs and set up the registration tables, and then officials carrying application forms and stamp duty containers came out and took their places.

“We will now begin the registration!”

Ding!

Following the official’s shout, a gong rang, and people began to move quickly.

* * *

The applicants, lined up in a winding queue like a moving snake thanks to the cordon, waited their turn, moving forward step by step.

“Name.”

“I am called Han Yang-soo.”

“Show me your identification tag.”

At the official’s words, Han Yang-soo rummaged through his sleeve and took out his identification tag. The official, receiving the tag, continued to question Yang-soo.

“State your clan and residence.”

“My clan is Anpyeong, and I currently live in Namcheon, down there.”

“Hmm….”

The official, comparing the personal information on the identification tag and confirming that there were no discrepancies, turned the tag over and said to Yang-soo.

“I’m sorry, but let’s see your face. Please take off your *gat* [Korean traditional hat].”

“Yes.”

At the official’s words, Yang-soo took off his *gat* and showed his entire face.

* * *

In the process of creating the identification tag, Hyang referenced the 21st-century resident registration card a lot.

Therefore, similar to the 21st-century resident registration card, every time someone moved, they would engrave the entry and exit records on the back of the identification tag.

Of course, this was closer to the 20th century than the 21st century, where the administrative network was computerized. In the 20th century, where computerization was not properly implemented, every time people moved and reported their move-in and move-out, they would peel off the rubber coating on the back of their resident registration card and record the relevant information.

“The problem is the photo….”

Since it was an era without the most reliable means of proving one’s identity, Hyang mobilized other measures.

That was to divide the back of the identification tag in half, recording the entry and exit records on one side and the characteristic appearance on the other.

“It may only be a temporary fix, but at least we need to take minimal precautions….”

* * *

“Hmm….”

The official made a humming sound, comparing the facial features recorded on the back of the identification tag with Yang-soo’s face.

“You are who you say you are. You may put your *gat* back on now. Thank you for your cooperation.”

“Yes.”

While Yang-soo was putting his *gat* back on, the official wrote down his name and personal information on the application form and then held out his hand.

“The stamp duty is 80 *won* [a unit of currency].”

“Here it is.”

The official, receiving the stamp duty, attached the stamp to the application form, stamped it with the official seal, divided the application form in half, and handed half to Yang-soo.

“Here is your exam registration ticket. In fifteen days, when entering the examination hall, you must submit this along with your identification tag. You will not be allowed to enter the examination hall without it, so take good care of it.”

“Yes.”

“Then, I wish you good luck.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

Having those taking the civil service examination submit their applications and pay the stamp duty was also Hyang’s idea.

“Is it necessary to increase the procedures like this?”

At Sejong’s question, Hyang explained the reason.

“It is to prevent any possible fraud.”

“Even if there is a registration certificate, can’t someone else take the civil service examination in their place?”

“That is why we compare it with the identification tag. Isn’t presenting someone else’s identification tag a serious crime?”

“Hmm…. That’s true.”

Sejong, nodding his head, pointed out another problem.

“But why are you receiving the stamp duty? 80 copper coins is not a small amount. If we are not careful, the court may be criticized for being merchants.”

At Sejong’s criticism, all the ministers except Kim Jeom nodded their heads.

However, this time too, Hyang answered clearly.

“It is to make them take the civil service examination seriously, rather than with a moment’s bravado or childishness. In addition, it also solves the finances consumed in the process of preparing and executing the civil service examination.”

“To make them take the civil service examination seriously….”

Sejong, as if liking Hyang’s words, repeated them a few times and looked back at the ministers.

“What do you think….”

“It is truly a brilliant idea! Of course, most of those taking the civil service examination have the mindset of serving the country with dedication, but there are always a few who muddy the waters! It is not a small amount of money, but it is not so much that they would give up the challenge, so only those who are truly sincere will respond!”

Before Sejong could finish speaking, Kim Jeom rattled off his words, and Sejong smacked his lips slightly and came to a conclusion.

“The Crown Prince’s plan is reasonable, so supplement it a little more and implement it.”

“I obey your command!”

The historian who recorded all of this added the following words.

-…Therefore, the King accepted the Crown Prince’s plan, and all the ministers followed his will.

The historian says.

Receiving money from those taking the civil service examination may be seen as mammonism in some ways. However, the problem is that it is not entirely wrong. Even when I took the civil service examination, there were more than a few who came out to the capital not for the purpose of the examination, but to enjoy entertainment.

Some people suffer and struggle to support their poor families and take the civil service examination, while others do it only for the purpose of entertainment, so these three generations will be completely ruined….

The historian poured out nearly 3 pages of harsh words in an instant.

It was one of the side effects of becoming familiar with *Hunminjeongeum* [the Korean alphabet].

Even when they only used Chinese characters, the historians wrote everything they had to say, but after learning *Hunminjeongeum*, it was as if tigers had grown wings.

* * *

The registration, which had been proceeding smoothly, faced a difficult situation when women submitted their applications.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s not in accordance with the law, but we need to confirm your face for identification purposes.”

“Haa~.”

“Heo~.”

Faced with the difficult problem of ‘identity verification,’ both the women taking the examination and the officials in charge of registration could only let out sighs full of embarrassment.

According to the customs of the time, women of noble families could not freely show their faces to outsiders.

Therefore, it was customary to wear a veil or *jeonmo* and *jangeot* when going out.

Even the courtesans wore *jeonmo* when going out on the streets.

In the end, to solve this difficult situation, the female applicants had to make a decision.

“It can’t be helped. However, I will not take it off completely like the men.”

“I don’t expect you to do that!”

When the official agreed, the female applicant slightly lifted the veil of the *nureul* [a type of veil] she was wearing and revealed her face.

As soon as the female applicant showed her face, the official compared it with the records on the identification tag as quickly as possible. If he delayed, rumors could spread that he had disgraced a woman under the pretext of accepting the application.

“Okay!”

At the official’s shout, who had finished the confirmation quickly, the woman quickly lowered her veil.

The official, receiving the stamp duty and handing over the registration certificate to the woman, muttered to himself.

“This is a problem? This kind of thing will happen again in the examination hall? We need an alternative.”

* * *

Whether there were one or two people who had similar thoughts, during the registration process and after the registration was completed, official documents requesting solutions to this problem flooded into the court.

“Hmm….”

Sejong, after checking the reports submitted through the *Seungjeongwon* [Royal Secretariat], pondered for a moment and immediately issued an order.

“Assign one female doctor to each examination hall throughout Joseon. The female doctors will be in charge of verifying the identity of female applicants.”

At Sejong’s order, Heo Jo immediately replied.

“I obey your command.”

* * *

As the registration ended and time passed, the civil service examination began.

In the examination halls set up in the *Gamyeong* [where the provincial governor performed his duties] throughout Joseon, straw mats were laid out according to the number of applicants, and wooden writing boards and inkstones were placed for writing on paper.

With these preparations in place, civil service examination takers were only allowed to bring a writing brush among the four treasures of the study.

After completing the identity verification process through officials and female doctors, the examinees entered and listened to the precautions.

“You may prepare for the exam by sitting on the straw mat with the number written on your exam registration ticket! Then, I wish you good luck!”

“Thank you.”

The applicants, who had passed the preliminary examination and entered the gate of the examination hall, looked around for the straw mat with the same number as the number on their exam registration ticket.

“Ah! Here it is!”

The applicant, sitting in his assigned seat, took a deep breath and calmed his chest.

* * *

After a while, when all the examinees had entered and sat down, the officials in charge of supervision entered and compared the applicants’ registration tickets with the numbers written on the straw mats.

When it was confirmed that everyone was in their seats, the provincial governor entered and took his place.

When those who would supervise and observe the examination were all in their places, a soldier with a good voice shouted loudly.

“Then, we will begin the first examination!”

The first civil service examination of the stagnation period had begun.