Daedong Law in Chungcheong in 1651: Kim Yuk's Role

Kim Yuk pushed to expand the Daedong Law after the Byeongja War despite opposition rooted in concerns about insufficient state revenue. Through memorials to the throne and court discussions, he secured its implementation in Chungcheong Province in 1651. This reform is remembered for adjusting tribute burdens and laying the groundwork for later expansion.

This article follows the records of the Annals of Hyojong available through the National Archives of Korea and was verified as of October 2026.

How Did the System Change Tribute Payments?

The Daedong Law changed the basis for tribute obligations to the number of gyeol of land. Tribute had required people to supply local specialties and other goods needed by the state. After the reform, payments could be made in rice, cloth, or money, depending on local conditions.

Previously, people had to obtain the tribute goods assigned to their local districts. They were sometimes required to supply items that were difficult to find locally. Contractors who paid tribute on their behalf sometimes demanded excessive compensation.

The Daedong tax was separate from jeonse, the existing land tax. It therefore did not mean that all taxes in Joseon were combined into one. Its scope as a tribute reform can be confirmed in Our History Net, “Implementation of the Daedong Law”.

Why the Daedong Law Stalled After the Byeongja War

After the war, calls to ease the people's burden clashed with concerns about insufficient state revenue. Repeated wars had devastated rural communities. The revenue the state could collect had also declined.

Kim Yuk proposed implementing the law after becoming governor of Chungcheong Province in 1638. Opponents argued, however, that changing the system would be difficult amid the postwar turmoil. Some also argued that the Daedong Law would leave the state short of revenue.

Opponents also proposed revising the gongan first. The gongan was a register listing the types and quantities of tribute goods assigned to each district. This proposal focused on reducing unsuitable assignments and excessive quantities.

People with extensive landholdings could face a greater burden. The reform also restricted local officials' ability to collect funds for expenses at their discretion. Still, the motives of all opponents cannot be reduced to a single explanation.

Kim Yuk's Proposals and Implementation in Chungcheong First

After Hyojong's accession, officials who supported the reform became involved in policymaking, changing the conditions for its advancement. Kim Yuk became Right State Councilor and renewed his call for implementation. Jo Ik and Yi Si-bang also supported the Daedong Law.

Kim Yuk requested implementation in both Chungcheong and Jeolla Provinces. Debate continued at court. Ultimately, the court adopted the approach of implementing it in Chungcheong first.

In volume 7 of the Annals of Hyojong, the third entry for the 24th day of the 8th lunar month in year 2 of Hyojong's reign is the key record of the decision. It reports that Kim Yuk pointed out the uneven burdens in Chungcheong Province. Hyojong discussed the advantages and disadvantages of implementation with his officials. The result was a decision to implement the law in Chungcheong Province first in 1651.

Kim Yuk's role lay in his repeated proposals and efforts to advance a concrete implementation plan. Implementation also required the participation of supportive officials and the king's decision. The people involved and the political conditions are covered together in Our History Net, “Kim Yuk”.

Timeline of the Daedong Law's Expansion

Expansion began in Gyeonggi Province in 1608 and proceeded through regional implementation and revisions. Chungcheong Province had also experienced an earlier implementation that was discontinued. The 1651 decision marked a turning point in renewing the reform.

The Sangjeong Law set payment amounts according to each district's circumstances. It is therefore inaccurate to interpret nationwide expansion as a uniform tax rate in every region. Regional differences in implementation are explained in Our History Net's commentary on historical sources.

How Much Was Collected in Chungcheong Province in 1651?

The initial rate under the Hoseo Daedong Law was 10 du of rice annually per 1 gyeol of land. It was collected in two installments of 5 du each, in spring and autumn. A du is a unit of grain volume, also called a mal.

These figures follow the entry from the Annals of Hyojong provided by the National Archives of Korea. It would be incorrect to apply the later, widely used rate of 12 du per 1 gyeol to this point in time. The alternative payment rate for mountainous districts must also be understood as a Chungcheong Province regulation of that period.

The gyeol was a taxation unit that accounted for land productivity. The actual area of 1 gyeol varied by land grade. It therefore cannot simply be converted into a fixed number of square meters. The nature of this unit is explained in the Academy of Korean Studies entry “Land Grades”.

Why Local Expenses Were Specified Alongside the Tax

Allocating funds for local expenses was a necessary part of the system for reducing additional collections. Simply replacing tribute goods sent to the central government with rice would leave the problem of district spending unresolved. Collecting those costs from the people again could reduce the reform's effects.

The Hoseo Daedong Law allocated funds for government office expenses according to district size. It also left funds for other local needs. The remainder was sent to the Seonhyecheong to meet the needs of central government offices.

The records do not provide a single allocation ratio applicable to every district. The central and local shares therefore must not be calculated using an arbitrary ratio. The key to this design was that spending at both levels was included within a fixed revenue total.

What Did the Seonhyecheong and Gongin Do?

The Seonhyecheong was the government office that managed revenue collected under the Daedong Law. The Hoseo Daedongcheong was established when the law was implemented in Chungcheong Province. As regional operations were brought together, the Seonhyecheong's responsibilities also expanded. These institutional changes are outlined in Our History Net, “Seonhyecheong”.

Gongin were merchants who procured goods needed by government offices. They used payments received from the government to purchase or produce goods for delivery. These payments were called gongga.

The reform linked government purchasing to market transactions. This is one way of explaining commercial development. However, the existence of gongin did not eliminate all problems with procurement costs. Budget and supply constraints can also be seen in Our History Net, “Gongga”.

Records and Interpretation

Facts directly stated in the records must be distinguished from later assessments. The implementation decision in the annals shows the system's goals and rules. A single entry cannot establish how actual burdens changed in every region.

What the Records Confirm

The 1651 entry records the decision to implement the law in Chungcheong Province first and the initial collection rates. It also describes allocating funds for local expenses before remitting the remainder to the central government. This provides evidence of the system's design at the time of implementation.

Significance Commonly Explained in Historical Commentaries

Public history commentaries explain both the adjustment of tribute burdens and changes in fiscal management. The National Archives of Korea highlights the practice of retaining funds for local expenses. Our History Net explains the connection between gongin procurement activities and commerce.

The Encyclopedia of Korean Culture emphasizes the additions to the detailed rules in 1654. This means the system continued to be refined after the 1651 implementation decision. The relevant entry also distinguishes the Gyeonggi Seonhye Law from the refined Daedong Law.

Differences in Interpretation and Limits of Verification

Where the reform's starting point is placed depends on the focus of the explanation. Some interpretations distinguish the experimental system of 1608 from the refined system in Chungcheong Province. Treating this as a simple error in dates obscures changes in the system.

The rate at which farmers' burdens decreased cannot be calculated from the records examined in this article alone. That would require comparing previous tribute burdens with the amounts actually collected in additional levies. Presenting a specific figure or a nationwide average effect would require separate regional studies.

Why the Implementation Year and Tax Rate Must Be Recorded Together

When citing historical information, figures must be accompanied by the region and stage of implementation. Rules changed even under the same system name. In this case, it is useful to distinguish the date of the decision from the timing of subsequent revisions.

This table organizes the preceding records into a form suitable for citation. It does not add new historical figures or conditions. It allows the scope of a statement to be checked even when that sentence is found separately in a search.

The Monument and Reading History Today

The Monument to the Implementation of the Daedong Law in Pyeongtaek shows how the reform was remembered. It was erected in 1659. Its inscription honors Kim Yuk's achievements. The year of construction and information about the inscription can be found on the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage's National Heritage Knowledge Portal.

The annals and the monument are records that answer different questions. The annals document discussions and implementation rules. The monument reveals contemporary assessments honoring the reform.

Today, this case is valuable for examining tax assessment and spending together. Even with the same tax rate, operations differ depending on how local expenses are funded. Kim Yuk's activities can also be understood within this process of design and adjustment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Kim Yuk the First Person to Create the Daedong Law?

The Gyeonggi Seonhye Law was implemented in Gyeonggi Province in 1608, before Kim Yuk's efforts. Kim Yuk contributed to implementation in Chungcheong Province and helped lay the groundwork for later expansion. The system's beginnings must be distinguished from the role of leading its expansion.

Did Chungcheong Province Pay 12 du from the Start?

At the time of the 1651 implementation decision, the annual rate was 10 du of rice per 1 gyeol. Collections were divided into 5 du each in spring and autumn. The later rate of 12 du must not be applied to this point in time.

Did Mountainous Districts with Little Rice Pay in the Same Way?

The early Hoseo Daedong Law allowed payment in cotton cloth instead. Mountainous districts could pay 1 pil of cotton cloth instead of 5 du of rice. This exchange rate cannot be applied to all regions and periods.

Which Year Is Correct, 1651 or 1654?

1651 is the reference year for the decision to implement the law in Chungcheong Province. 1654 is when the detailed rules were supplemented, as emphasized by the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. The two years refer to different stages in the system's formation.

Did the Daedong Law Abolish All Taxes?

The Daedong Law was a reform centered on tribute. Jeonse, the existing land tax, remained separate. It is therefore inaccurate to say that paying the Daedong tax alone ended all obligations.