Koryo finished reorganizing the local system in the ninth year of king Hyon-jong, which had begun in king Tae-Jo. And a new local official called 'Kammu' began to be sent to provinces in king Ye-jong. Since king Ye-jong. The establishment of 'Kammu' b...
Koryo finished reorganizing the local system in the ninth year of king Hyon-jong, which had begun in king Tae-Jo. And a new local official called 'Kammu' began to be sent to provinces in king Ye-jong. Since king Ye-jong. The establishment of 'Kammu' brought many changes of the local system. Before the establishment of 'Kammu' the system had consisted of ' Ju-hyun' (main province) with government, officials and ' Sok-hyun' (belonging to ' Ju-hyun') without government, officials. The local system had many bad effects. 'Kammu' corrected these effects and tried to stabilize wandering people.
When 'Kammus' were chiefly established was in the all years of king Ye-jong in the 21 year of king In-jong, in the all years of king Myong and in the all years of king Kong-yang. But during the period of 'Won' intervention, there were only a few Kammus established because of the situation of the time. And the purposes of dispatches were different according to the time. In the first year of king Ye-jong. The biggest purpose was to stop people living in Sok-hyun from wandering and to stabilize wandering people, who were expected to be responsible for tax and compulsory service. Another purpose was to secure financial sources necessary for the subjugation of 'Yojin'. This needed stabilitation of wandering people. The establishment of 'Kammu' for the reasonable rule of locals was successful and continued afterward.
In the 21th year of king In-jong, 'Hyun-ryong' was focuced on rather than 'Kammu'. During the Myochung revolt the goverment dispatched 'Hyugpa' to Seokyeong and 'Hyunryoung to Kyungsang-do and Cholla-do. Centralization of government was intended through change of local system.
In the all years of king Myong-jong, Kammu was established in unsettled conditions caused by wamors revolt. Then the power of warriors expanded into provinces. But they in lowly social position had no strong economic base. So they occupied positions of officials and plundered people on the purpose of the expansion of economic base.
As a result, the local system led social chaos and administrative paralysis. The warrior(Muin) regime was destoryed after Mogolian Invasion and restored royal rule was placed in special conditions during the period of Won intervention.
Accordingly pro-Won people had a power in their hands, with royal power weakening. In this situation, there were kings like Chungsun, Kongmin trying to strengthen royal power with reforms, the local system was reorganized, focusing on the official's duty.
Since king Woo, king Sin had increased Kammu, considering distinguished men in war, meritorious retainers, royal families delegates. This increase was intended to discriminate in favor of these people.
The establishment of Kammu began in Kyonggi near the capital and later expanded to Yangkwang, Cholla and Kyongsang-do. Kammu were dispatched to Kyoju, Seohae, Kwangyang-do, in king Yejong and Kwangyang, Cholla, Kyongsang-do in king Myeong-jong and Kyongsang-do in king Kyongyang, finally at the end of Koryo, Kammus were sent to all over the country, but all Sokhyuns had not Kammu.
The times of the establishment had something in common. In king Yejong, royal power strengthened in a society of aristocracy, with aristocratic class oppressed.
In king Myeong-jong and Kongyang, families in power were ruined without the prevalence of aristocratic power. The establishment of Kammu had important meanings not only in strengthening of royal power, but in the time of the establishment when the political power was weak. Kammu was set up earlier in Sok-hyun than in Sok-hyun.