고려 충숙왕 대 科擧制정비의 내용과 의미

Abstract

King Chungseon-wang, father of king Chungsuk-wang, was aware of certain problems associated with the National examination system. One of them was a tightly fabricated web of a human network established upon individual relationships formed among students, their teachers and the Examination supervisors. Such network was a barrier for others who wished to apply for a governmental seat yet did not have the opportunities to avail themselves to such human relationships. So Chungseon-wang modified the supervisor system, and chose to employ methods other than the national examination system, in recruiting human resources into the government. Yet in the meantime, Chungseon-wang was also very much interested in accepting and embracing foreign(Chinese, Yuan) institutions, and as he was the one who recommended the national examination system be reemployed inside the Yuan empire, he was highly motivated to send as many Koreans as possible to Yuan, and have them successfully apply for the Yuan imperial examination system as well. So as part of such efforts, he transformed the traditional Goryeo national exam called Dongdang'shi(Yebu'shi) into a new form of examination called Eung'geo-shi, which meant an 'examination for applicants who would "Eung'geo"[apply] for the Yuan imperial exam.' And in order to facilitate the establishment of such format, he abolished all other important devices that had been associated with the traditional Goryeo national examination system, such as the Gukja'gam university exam, and the pre-test practice called Goye'shi. Chungsuk-wang simply did not agree with such changes, and could not let Chungseon-wang destroy all the previous parameters established concerning the Goryeo national examination system. So in order to reverse all such changes, and reinforce the government's functions of educating the students and facilitating the officer candidates' efforts to become a skilled governmental official, Chungsuk-wang initiated his own reforms of the national exam system. His efforts were designed to support the students of the national university(Gukja'gam) and the students studying in private boards altogether. To do so, he reestablished the Gukja'gam-shi system, yet not in the same way of the past. In the name of holding the Gukjsa'gam-shi exam, he reinstated two types of exams named 'Gu'jae Sak'shi' and 'Geoja-shi,' and held them in an alternating fashion with the interval of three or four years. The former was designed to encourage the private study board students to apply for the exam, by having them gathered and be provided with material support and also an obligation to meet a certain standard before applying for the national exam. Meanwhile, the latter seems to have been a same system eant for the students studying at the Gukja'gam university. By employing these exams, Chungsuk-wang was able to effectively make all the students study harder, no matter where they were studying, either at the Gukja'gam university or in Private boards. Chungsuk-wang also genuinely wished to prepare the students better, no matter such student would wish to enter the Goryeo government or apply for the Yuan imperial exam. To do so, he restored the Goye'shi pre-test practice,which allowed a student who passed such pre-test with flying colors to not necessarily report to the first round but directly to the second or even third round of the national exam. By doing so he not only motivated more students to study harder, but also was able to raise the students' awareness and their level of knowledge in the Goryeo and Chinese history, and the things that should be cared for and addressed in real life in order to enhance the society and better the world. The results of his reforms lasted for nearly half a century, before they were thwarted by king Gongmin-wang, who resurrected his grandfather king Chungseon-wang's policies which Chungsuk-wang so doggedly opposed. Nonetheless, Chungsuk-wang's efforts and accomplishments, in terms of modifying and revitalizing the national exam system, marked quite an important step in the overall evolution of the Goryeo dynasty's national exam system in the 14th century.