Od pogłoski do popkultury – tajne wyprawy koreańskich inspektorów (amhaeng ŏsa)
From Undercover to Popular Culture – the Voyage of a Secret Royal Inspector

Author(s): Kamila Kozioł
Subject(s): Cultural history, Studies of Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: secret royal inspector; Pak Mun-su; Chŏson civil officials; Ch’unhyang-chŏn
Summary/Abstract: The subject of this paper – so called Secret Inspectors (amhaeng ŏsa, 암행 어사, 暗 行 御史) – were a special rank of clerk appointed during the reign of Chŏson dynasty (Chŏson wangjo, 조선 왕조, 朝鮮 王朝; 1392–1910). They were to supervise members of the state administration, appointed to posts in the provinces, detect possible abuses against the civilian population, and conduct investigations in the event of suspected corruption. Due to their prerogatives, they were perceived by simple people as quasi-heroes, standing up for the lowly, defenseless people. This article discusses the process of mythologization of the figures of officials appointed to the position and the functions they performed.

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