다산 정약용의 공직자상과 공직윤리

Abstract

This study is about desirable requirements and ethics for public officials suggested by Dasan Jeong Yak Yong (茶山 丁若鏞). As most people know, Dasan is one of the greatest scholars in Joseon Dynasty. He defined his scholarly works as the study for self-cultivation and governing and categorized them into such two parts, of which the study for self-cultivation is carried out by the Six Confucian Classics and that for governing is done by three representative works of his; Kyeongseyupyo (經世遺表, A General Reform Proposal), Mokminsimseo (牧民心書, A Treatise on Governing as Public Officials) and Heumheumsinseo (欽欽新書, A Proposal on Criminal Code). In short, Dasan classified this scholarly hierarchy with Confucian classics and practical government. Among his works for practical government, Mokminsimseo is the book that Dasan had devoted himself the most, suggesting righteous qualifications and ethics for public servants. In this book, above all, Dasan requires the public officials to have three types of attitude, which are having love for the people, integrity, and competence. Such realistic discernment had come from the exile for 18-year-long to have been aware the real agony of the people and tried to solve the problems. His insight of such is also reflected in his saying, “Possible to take up a public office, not possible to take anybody to truly governing.”