조선후기 서울의 都市犯罪와 捕盜廳의 활동

Abstract

Seoul, capital of Chosun, was the political center in which royal palaces and various political organs were located. In the late Chosun, it became the economic center in which the national goods were concentrated through Han river. The economic and political development of Seoul resulted in the increase of population and crime as a side effect of urbanization as well as the development of culture. Po-Do-Ch'ŏng(捕盜廳) was a central law enforcement authority in the late Chosun. It played an important role in maintaining of public security by preventing and controlling crimes which became increased both in quality and quantity as a result of urbanization. It, especially, distinguished itself in preventing the social and economic crimes which followed the laxity of the order of social status and the development of commerce. Po-Do-Ch'ŏng established surveillance network against civilians in city by secret investigation and stakeout, so that it kept control over crimes systematically. It employed menace and violence to civilians in the process of controlling over crimes and examining criminals which caused civil resistance. The civil resistances were, however, suppressed by Po-Do-Ch'ŏng which resorted to violence. To conclude, Po-Do-Ch'ŏng in the late Chosun functioned as a central and efficient political system for maintaining the establishment as well as a government organs for public security.