The Identity of Joseon Interpreters in the Qing Empire

Abstract: Joseon interpreters in the Qing Empire were chosen from Korean bannermen and their descendants, who took the initiative to join the Qing Empire or were captured by Qing armies during war. They were a group of “transfrontiersmen” who were able to greatly influence the Qing-Joseon relationship. They maintained extensive interpersonal relationships in Korea and especially kept a good relationship with the Korean interpreters at the Bureau of Interpreters. Joseon interpreters in the early Qing even had family members in Korea. Joseon interpreters were Koreans by ethnicity but were significantly Manchurized, so they maintained a dual identity of both Koreans and Qing bannermen at least until the Qinglong era. The Joseon court was also well aware of this. It always utilized the Joseon interpreters’ interpersonal relationships and identity to gather Qing intelligence and request their assistance in various matters. Still, it could never fully trust these “Koreans” who were serving another country, especially when confidential matters were involved.