Saheonbu ( ko, 사헌부;
Hanja
Hanja (Hangul: ; Hanja: , ), alternatively known as Hancha, are Chinese characters () used in the writing of Korean. Hanja was used as early as the Gojoseon period, the first ever Korean kingdom.
(, ) refers to Sino-Korean vocabulary, ...
: ,
) administered inspections during
Goryeo
Goryeo (; ) was a Korean kingdom founded in 918, during a time of national division called the Later Three Kingdoms period, that unified and ruled the Korean Peninsula until 1392. Goryeo achieved what has been called a "true national unificat ...
and
Joseon dynasty
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...
in
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
. The organ inspected Hanyang, the capital, and periphery. It has several nicknames. It was also responsible for licensing officials, impeachment and legal inquiries, which also extends to the control of King's relatives. The strongest duty is to directly criticize king's order.
Since the organ took charge of judicial responsibility for officials and the subjects, the
ethos
Ethos ( or ) is a Greek word meaning "character" that is used to describe the guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize a community, nation, or ideology; and the balance between caution, and passion. The Greeks also used this word to refer to ...
was strict.
History
The board of inspection actually began several centuries earlier. During Silla dynasty, the title was converted to Saganwon during the reign of
Gongmin of Goryeo
Gongmin of Goryeo (23 May 1330 – 27 October 1374), also known by his Mongolian name, Bayan Temür., was 31st ruler of Goryeo from 1351 to 1374. He was the second son of King Chungsuk.
Biography
Early life
Goryeo had been a semi-autonomou ...
.
Taejo of Joseon
Taejo of Joseon (4 November 1335 – 27 June 1408), born Yi Seong-gye (), was the founder and first ruler of the Joseon dynasty of Korea. After ascending to the throne, he changed his name to Yi Dan (), and reigned from 1392 to 1398. He was ...
established the organ right after the foundation of
Joseon Dynasty
Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and r ...
in 1392. The standard organization was 1 head officer and 12 officials with about 40 other bureaucrats.
Responsibility
# Regular meeting of royal court
# Payment of national debts
# Tributes
#
Gwageo
The ''gwageo'' or ''kwago'' were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' ability of writing composition and knowledge of the Chinese clas ...
The system began in
China, where the organ played a wider role at the royal court. In this sense, the organ and its responsibility was in line with Saganwon where the subjects remonstrate the order of King.
The issue of royal court was to control over the power between the king and the subjects, keeping abreast of the order of the government, which later produced severe side effects in some cases. Its work is quite similar to the board of audits and inspection in current time.
See also
*
Uigeumbu
Uigeumbu (in Hangul:의금부, in Hanja: 義禁府) refers to the judiciary organ during Goryeo and Joseon dynasty in Korea. Another names are Geum-o or Wangbu (The ministry of the King). The structure was in charge of questioning the case of trea ...
*
Seungjeongwon
The ''Seungjeongwon'' was the Royal Secretariat during the Joseon dynasty of Korea (1392–1910) in charge of receiving and delivering the king's order. The office was also called ''Jeongwon'', ''Huwon'', ''Eundae'', or ''Daeeonsa''. According to t ...
References
{{Reflist
Politics of Korea
Goryeo
Joseon dynasty