Village office - Kyocho

Japanese: 郷庁 - きょうちょう

A local government organization in Korea and the Yi Dynasty. It is also called Hyangsadang, Hyangso, Jiso, etc. Following the tradition of local government from the Goryeo Dynasty, it was established as an organization where local yangban (Chinese slang) class would assist and advise the shurei (local official) dispatched from the central government. Its head was called Zasu or Hyangjeong, and its members were called Hyangin. They were selected from local people of high moral standing and were responsible for policing the customs of the village, inspecting the shiyori (Chinese government officials), issuing government orders, and conveying public sentiment to the shurei. Originally, the Hyangcho organization was separate from the Hyangshi organization, which was the executive body directly under the shurei, and had its own internal rules called Hyanggi and a list of local yangban (Chinese government officials) called Hyangan. Since the term of office of the shurei dispatched from the central government was short (within 1,800 days by regulation), the Hyangcho organization maintained its own authority until the end of the Yi Dynasty where the local yangban class was strong.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

朝鮮，李朝時代の地方自治機関。郷射堂，郷所，時所などともよぶ。高麗時代からの地方自治の伝統をひき，在地の両班（ヤンバン）層が中央から派遣される守令(地方官)を補佐･助言する機構として成立した。その長を座首または郷正，構成員を郷任とよぶ。地方の徳望のある者から選んで邑内の風俗の取締り，胥吏（しより）の糾察，政令の下達，民情を守令に伝えるなどの任にあたった。本来郷庁組織は守令の直属の執行機関である郷吏(胥吏)組織とは別で，郷規とよばれる独自の内規や，郷案とよばれる在地の両班名簿などをもち，中央から派遣される守令の任期が短い(規定では1800日以内)こともあって，在地両班層の強固な所では李朝末期まで独自の権威を保った。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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