조선시대 암행어사의 수령 평가와 재임 실태의 상관성− 암행어사 書啓와 수령선생안을 중심으로 −

Abstract

This study set out to investigate correlations between the evaluation of Suryeongs by secret royal inspectors and their actual term of office based on the Seogye of secret royal inspectors and the Suryeong Seonsaengan of Jeolla Province in the latter half of Joseon. The study first examined connections between the evaluation of Suryeong and their term of office and had several facts confirmed: 1) 47.9% of 119 Suryeongs subjected to evaluation by secret royal inspectors received a positive evaluation from the inspectors. 26.1% and 20.2% received negative and average evaluations, respectively. 2) There are more Suryeong that received a positive evaluation from secret royal inspectors during the same section according to their longer term of office. 3) It was not easy for Suryeongs to hold the office for three years or longer after receiving a negative evaluation from secret royal inspectors. 4) Four Suryeongs did not last in the office even for a year after receiving a positive evaluation due to Sangpi with Gwanchalsas and promotion. The study then examined the effects of evaluations by secret royal inspectors on the replacement of Suryeongs. Reasons of replacement were categorized into the end of term, resignation, Ibae, dismissal, and Chejik. A couple of facts were confirmed: 1) Of Suryeongs that received a positive evaluation from secret royal inspectors, 7, 11, 20, and 3 were cases of end of term, resignation, Ibae, and dismissal, respectively. In cases of end of term, most were usually promoted to another post. It was a common case that Suryeongs receiving a positive evaluation would take another post including Gyeonggwan and Suryeong of a different town in most cases except for resignation. 2) Of Suryeongs that received a negative evaluation from secret royal inspectors, 2, 2, 5, and 15 were cases of end of term, resignation, Ibae, and dismissal, respectively. Since these cases were assessed as bad governance, dismissal and resignation were natural outcomes. There were, however, two and five Suryeongs that received a negative evaluation and then served till the end of term and Ibae, respectively. The two Suryeongs that served till the end of term were evaluated by their predecessors after the end of their terms. The others were assessed to have no problems performing their duties as Suryeongs despites their small defects. 3) There were 18 Suryeongs that were assessed and categorized by "average" by the investigator, and ten of them were dismissed. The investigator assessed Suryeongs that were reported for both good and bad governance on Seogye as "average," but the royal court took the measure of dismissal for them.