조선시대 제주지역 역관(譯官) 설치 및 운영 양상

Abstract

This study explores the background behind the appointment of interpreters in Jeju, the establishment and operation of interpreter offices (yeokgwancheong), and the local publication and use of language-learning texts (yeokhakseo). The first part of the study examines the reasons for appointing interpreters in Japanese (waehak) and Chinese (hanhak) in Jeju. Located at a key point along East Asian maritime routes, Jeju experienced a higher frequency of landings by castaways from Japan, China, and other countries than any other region in Joseon. These foreigners were handled in accordance with established maritime rescue protocols and precedents, following procedures for relief, transport, and repatriation. According to custom, local officials were required to conduct interrogations (munjeong) to determine the details of the incident and report their findings to the central government. The officials in charge of inspecting the vessels and conducting these interrogations were interpreters (yeokgwan), who played a central role in the process. Among the four state-recognized language disciplines, which included hanhak (Chinese), monghak (Mongolian), waehak (Japanese), and yeojinhak (later Qing Chinese), the first interpreter position to be established in Jeju was in Japanese (waehak). This appointment was made in July 1478 during the reign of King Seongjong, based on the recommendation of Yi Yak-dong, who had previously served as magistrate of Jeju from October 1470 to August 1473. During his tenure, Jeju was frequently raided by Japanese pirates, which caused significant damage and prompted efforts to strengthen military forces and coastal defenses. Drawing on his experience and deep understanding of local conditions, Yi proposed the establishment of a Japanese-language interpreter (waehak yeokgwan) who would also serve as a military officer. Following the appointment of the Japanese-language interpreter (waehak yeokgwan), the next position to be established in Jeju was the Chinese-language interpreter (hanhak yeokgwan). According to the Tongmungwanji (1720), during the tenure of Magistrate Yun Gye in 1672 (the 13th year of King Hyeonjong’s reign), an additional hanhak yeokgwan was appointed alongside the existing waehak yeokgwan in order to interrogate a castaway from China. This record provides insight into the circumstances behind the establishment of the hanhak interpreter position. Several local gazetteers, including Jeungbo Tamnaji (1766) compiled by Magistrate Yun Si-dong, also state that the hanhak yeokgwan was appointed during Yun Gye’s term in 1672, supporting the information recorded in the Tongmungwanji. Historical records also confirm the presence of an interpreter for the Ryukyu language (yugu yeokgwan) in Jeju. In 1794 (the 18th year of King Jeongjo’s reign), a group of 11 Ryukyuan envoys (3 survivors and 8 deceased) shipwrecked on Gapado, an island under Daejeong-hyeon in Jeju, while en route to Yonaguni Island. At the time, a local interpreter named Yi Ik-cheong, who had previously learned the Ryukyuan language from earlier shipwrecked visitors, was able to carry out the necessary interrogations himself. Upon receiving this report, King Jeongjo rewarded Yi and ordered him to teach others the language and to establish a separate instructional office (yogwa). However, despite these measures, it appears that a formal interpreter position for the Ryukyuan language was never institutionally established. The second part of this study examines the establishment and evolution of interpreter offices (yeokgwancheong) in Jeju, based on various local gazetteers of the region. Through this investigation, the changes in the names and locations of these offices over time have been identified. During the Joseon Dynasty, the interpreter offices in Jeju underwent several name changes depending on the period. Initially referred to as Samhakcheong, the institution later became known as Yeokhakbang and Waehakbang, followed by Hanwaehakdang, and eventually Jieodang. The locations of these offices also changed over time. In the early period, Waehakbang was situated to the south of Gwandeokjeong, while Yeokhakbang was located to the north. Later, both offices came to be located together to the north of Gwandeokjeong. By the mid-19th century, the offices were positioned to the left and right of the building’s side wings. The third part of the study explores the use and publication of language-learning texts (yeokhakseo) in Jeju as part of interpreter training during the Joseon Dynasty. After 1672, Nogeoldae and Cheophaesineo were used as educational materials for interpreter students in Jeju. From 1699 onward, it has been confirmed that woodblock editions of Chinese-language textbooks such as Sangwonjeeo and Japanese-language materials including Cheophaesineo were actually printed in Jeju. These findings demonstrate that the appointment of interpreters (yeokgwan), the establishment of interpreter offices (yeokgwancheong), and the publication of Japanese-language texts such as Cheophaesineo were all closely tied to the handling of incidents involving foreign castaways in Jeju. Such responses included interrogation (munjeong), assistance, and repatriation. Ultimately, under the foreign policy conditions of the Joseon Dynasty, which limited direct contact with the outside world, the interpreters stationed in Jeju served as critical intermediaries. They played a vital role in detecting and relaying new information and changing international dynamics to the broader Joseon society.