History of Korea

Brief Description of Political Institutions

The Choson Dynasty, with Neo-Confucianism as its official ideology, had an elaborate bureaucracy, with the king at the helm (so to speak). At the very top was the State Council composed of the three High State Councillors, who made policy for the government. Then the Six Ministries (Yukcho) were responsible for administration. These included Personnel, Taxation, Rites, Military Affairs, Punishments, and Public Works. The Royal Secretariat was the liason agency for the monarch. All documents had to go through them first. And keeping with the Neo-Confucian ideal of a sage-king, the Choson Dynasty had a unique authority known as the Censorate (Samsa). The Censorate was responsible for criticizing and advising.

The main way to enter the government bureaucracy was by taking the civil service examination. Generally, these examinations tested one's knowledge of the Confucian classics.

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