17~18세기 전반 인삼무역의 변동과 개성상인의 활동

Abstract

Gaesung merchants in late Joseon period have significantly expanded their operations domestically and internationally. This research has examined the international trade of Gaesung merchants, notably ginseng trade, from 17th century to early 18th century. Ginseng trade in late Joseon era went through great transformations according to internal and external conditions. During the Hideyoshi invasion of Korea, Chinese soldiers and merchants came to Korea and engaged in commerce other than military operations. They eventually gathered large amounts of ginseng back to China. After the invasion came the envoys from Ming China, eager to obtain ginseng. They have also collected immensely as a result. During and in the aftermath of the Hideyoshi invasion, the nature of ginseng trade was uniquely determined under the condition of Chinese military aid. Ginseng trade during Ming-Qing transitional tmes of China witnessed dramatic change as well. Manchuria, the birthplace of Qing dynasty, also happened to be the wild growth place of ginseng. The economic background of Later Kum growth was none other than Ginseng trade, so that Kum tried to export ginseng to Joseon Korea. The position of Joseon was reversed, as it now became the importer of ginseng, which was the exact opposite of the previous. As the Joseon ginseng export to China was at a low ebb, the merchants tried to find a breakthrough by commercializing with Japan. Until then, ginseng export to Japan was strictly limited, but became more active from this time. During this period, Gaesung merchants played a major role of ginseng trade, as Gaesung was always mentioned whenever the Korean government made ginseng measures. Gaesung merchants were dominating ginseng trade, thus the reason why the city was treated important despite the fact that it was not a production center. In 1685, a Korean who crossed the border and collected ginseng in Manchuria shot and injured a Chinese official. Due to the seriousness of the incident, Joseon government banned both ginseng extraction and trade the following year. Because of an all out ginseng prohibition, ginseng gatherers faced immediate problems in their livelihood. This situation led to some illegal activities of ginseng traders, which eventually caused the government to loosen its prohibition. The Joseon court allowed partial extraction in 1694, lifted the ban in Japanese residential area of Busan around 1693, and cancelled the measure itself in Pyeongan and HamKyeong provinces in 1707. Such developments led to a reflowering of ginseng trade. At this age, Korea's main exporting country was Japan, as ginseng trade permitted circa 1640 came to flourish during this epoch. During this time of ginseng trade transformation, Gaesung merchants were crucial in terms of its operation. Not only did they purchased ginseng directly from the production areas, they also exported the commodity directly to outside Korea as well. Thanks to their endeavors, Gaesung merchants became the prime benefactor of the booming ginseng trade, and ultimately managed to be the leading merchants of late Joseon period.