Articles Miscellaneous Ranks and Positions in the Joseon Dynasty: Especially those for palace servants

A person born as a slave was strictly excluded from official ranks and positions in the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, although some palace slaves were exceptionally granted miscellaneous ranks and positions through their services to the royal court. The miscellaneous ranks and positions were mainly established in the Aekjeongseo, or the Office of Inner Palace Attendants, for the appointment of palace slaves who served in the daily lives of the king, queen, crown prince, and other royal families. Some of the Jewon, or miscellaneous workers, and Gusa, or runners, also served in and out of the palace, assisting in the work of Sanguiwon (Royal Tailor's Office), Saongwon (Royal Kitchen Office), Saboksi (Royal Stable Management Office), and Jeonseolsa (Royal Hall Arrangement Office). Jewon were of common status and were rewarded with military positions. Gusa were of slave status, and they were rewarded by being transferred to the Jewon positions. Thus, Jewon became a mixed status of commoners and slaves, and were sometimes considered to be miscellaneous. In addition, the various ranks and positions were established for the artisans of slave status who worked in the studios of the royal court to produce the daily commodities for the royals and officials. However, these ranks and positions for artisans were abolished in the later period of the dynasty because they were not rewarded by court positions but by the fee itself, which was linked to the social and economic changes from forced labor to hired labor. In the daily life of the court, the servants and other forced laborers were replaced by hired workers, and the various posts were reduced or abolished. Furthermore, these social changes led to the abolition of official slavery in 1801. However, the miscellaneous ranks and positions in Aaekjeognseo were maintained until the fall of the dynasty because the positions were intimately connected to the daily lives of the royal families and were hereditary, kept by the palace slaves as their privileges.