Report by a Secret Royal Inspector

Joseon · 1F · Medieval and Early Modern History · Joseon 3

This document was drawn up in the eighth month of 1874 by a secret royal inspector dispatched to the Musan area of North Hamgyeong Province, who observed the hardships of the local people and set out remedies point by point. In remote, far-northern Musan the people's lives were extremely hard; the inspector singled out as the gravest grievances the abuses of the grain-loan system (lending grain in spring and collecting it with interest in autumn), the abuses of land administration (gyeoljeong), and the tribute of deer antler. The term "su-ui," the robe worn by a secret inspector, also came to mean the inspector himself.

See it in person at the National Museum of Korea — 1F · Medieval and Early Modern History · Joseon 3

Source: based on official e-museum records (National Museum of Korea).