정약용 행정개혁과 현대적 가치

Abstract

The late Joseon Dynasty was a ‘soft’ state based on Neo-Confucianism. Officials were corrupt, and the educated class was only interested in debate or power acquisition. Jeong Yak-yong hoped for a fair society through corruption reform, and presented a national reform plan for the sake of a wealthy and strong nation and stable people’s livelihood. This study examines the core ideas of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong for administrative reform, analyzes the actual content, and examines modern values. Jeong Yak-yong’s administrative thought is a philosophy of administrative reform. However, it goes beyond mere philosophy or thought and presents practical measures to reform the chaos and absurdity of the mid-late Joseon Dynasty. Jeong Yak-yong advocated for a proper and reasonable administrative reform plan for local officials through Mokminsimseo, and advocated for reform of the central administration, especially the personnel administration system, through Gyeongseyubyo. He pursued reform of the criminal law system based on the spirit of the people through Heumheumsinseo. Administrative reform based on Jeong Yak-yong’s thought still has considerable value today. First, Jeong Yak-yong's philosophy presents the direction of administrative operation that can be implemented in a democratic state along with the idea of ​​democracy. Although formal and institutional democracy has been achieved, the process of deriving democratic policies in which citizens' will is discussed at the level of discourse and their opinions are sufficiently considered is still insufficient. Through administrative reform in the style of Jeong Yak-yong, we can complete a more advanced, modern, Korean democracy. Meanwhile, Jeong Yak-yong's thought has value as a philosophy of a Korean-style welfare state. Jeong Yak-yong's thought, based on the idea of ​​caring for the people and loving the people, is so valid that it can be used as a practical guideline for a modern Korean welfare state. Administrative reform based on Jeong Yak-yong's thought has great implications for carrying out reformative administrative work today.