조선후기 私鑄律의 제정과 민의 私鑄 실태

Abstract

This study examines the process of the government's legislation on Monetary counterfeiting and the status of Monetary counterfeiting by the people during the Joseon Dynasty. Joseon Dynasty made efforts to systematically improve and make a law unique to Joseon, even though there was a monetary counterfeiting clause in the 「Daemyeongnyul(The Great Ming Code)」. In the early days, artisans who forged coins were put to death and the Bongjok[奉足] were put into exile. However, they both strengthened the punishment by decapitation(not waiting for time). If they conspired together and made a profit, they would be put to death. Those who installed a brazier but failed to forge coins and those who forged and discarded coins were sent into exile. However, if they conspired together and made a profit, they would be put to death. Despite the strong punishment of the state for forgery of coins, counterfeiting of coins continued to occur during the late Joseon Dynasty. Monetary counterfeiting was committed by various social classes, and occurred all over the country. By the 19th century, a large number of people participated, and an organized pattern appeared. The government thoroughly punished the main offenders among monetary counterfeiters. From 1846, the head of a decapitated criminal hang up in front of a camp gate. This was because monetary counterfeiting was thought to have a great damage or ripple effect on the private sector as it added to the stability of money transactions and confusion in the distribution order. As such, the government began to control monetary counterfeiting in order to establish a stable distribution base of money and to give public confidence, as monetary counterfeiting causes various problems such as a decrease in confidence in the currency and confusion in the economic order. The enactment of the Act on Monetary counterfeiting in the late Joseon Dynasty can be said to be the result of reflecting the government's intention and will.