History of Korea

Chungin

This class resided primarily within the confines of Seoul acting as the machinery for the Confucian bureaucracy. They were the technical experts of the Choson dynasty. They performed the tasks that yangban would not, but still required a certain amount of mental dexterity and technical expertise.

The chungin did not seem to be a discrete class until the 16th century.

"In the countryside was the class of hyangi, whose members staffed the clerical positions in the local magistracies"(Hejtmanek p. 73).

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