Yŏngŭijŏng
The Yŏngŭijŏng or Chief State Councilor was a member of the State Council of Joseon and the highest government position in the Joseon period of Korean history. The Yŏngŭijŏng held roles similar to a modern-day prime minister of a presidential system. As the senior member of the Chief State Council, the Yŏngŭijŏng participated in the administration of general government affairs alongside the Chwaŭijŏng and Uŭijŏng.
The title was created in 1400 with the creation of the State Council. Existing for over 500 years, the function was handed over in 1895 during the Kabo Reform to the newly-formed position of the Prime Minister of the Korean Empire. Only one official, usually an elder who had previously served as Chwaŭijŏng, was allowed to assume the position of Yŏngŭijŏng. The Yŏngŭijŏng was also referred to as Yŏngsang, Sangsang, Sugyu or Wŏnbo.
Although the title of Yŏngŭijŏng was legally defined as the highest post in charge of all state affairs, its practical roles and powers shifted drastically throughout history as the roles of the State Council were not clearly defined in the Kyŏngguk taejŏn. During the early years of Joseon, the Yŏngŭijŏng saw limited roles in government as the Six Ministries reported directly to the king.
History
Establishment
Upon its founding in 1392, the state of Joseon initially inherited the state structure of its predecessor Goryeo. In 1400, the second year of his reign, King Jeongjong reformed the , which was previously the supreme administrative body of the Goryeo dynasty, to the State Council. The head of the State Council was given the title "Yŏngŭijŏng pusa". As both functions of State Council got stronger, and its system was further revised, "Yŏngŭijŏng pusa" was renamed to "Yŏngŭijŏng" in a firm establishment of the office.In 1466, the position was officially put in statutory form with the finalization of the Kyŏngguk taejŏn. The Yŏngŭijŏng title was generally conferred on a senior minister who had previously served as Chwaŭijŏng, a post immediately below that of Yŏngŭijŏng, but higher than that of Uŭijŏng. The three councilors were collectively known as the "Chŏngsŭng", or "Samŭijŏng".
Changes in the role
Until April 1436, the 18th year of Sejong the Great's reign, Chwaŭijŏng and Uŭijŏng concurrently served as Panijosa and Panbyeongjosa respectively, so that they governed personnel affairs of yangban.Yŏngŭijŏng continued to exist as an honorary post, and so only managed to contemplate and adjust diplomatic documents or re-examine the cases of condemned people.
However, when Hwang Hŭi was appointed as "Yŏngŭijŏng pusa" in that same year, Sejong modified the government system to strengthen the power of Chŏngsŭng from the Six Ministries centered system. With the reform, Sejong noted that a situation in which three highest senior advisors could not participate in the state affairs contravened the original intention to have them as the high state councillors.
During the reform, Six Ministries conferred with State Council regarding the responsibilities of each minister. State Council discussed legitimacy of the issues, and then reported to the king. After receiving an approval from the king, State Council returned to Yujo to enact the assigned affairs. As a result, Yŏngŭijŏng came to participate more actively in the representative work as the head of State Council. However, other ministerial duities, such as those of the ministries and to implement personnel management, Pyongjo's mobilization of soldiers, 's right to handle all criminals other than condemned people, were still directly operated by the related ministers.
When Prince Suyang usurped the place of his nephew, King Danjong, the function of Yŏngŭijŏng was relegated to its previous powerless position. This was because when the King Sejo was still a prince, his actions were greatly restricted by his political rivals, Yŏngŭijŏng, Hwangbo In and Chwaŭijŏng, Kim Chongsŏ. So during the reigns of King Seongjong and Jungjong, there were several proposals to restore the former powers of State Council, but those suggestions were not implemented.
Major affairs of the state were discussed when Bibyeonsa was established in 1558. The three High Councillors attended meetings only as "Tojejo". So the power of Yŏngŭijŏng tended to be increased or decreased, depending on the political atmosphere of the times, such as the degree of the king's power, the relationship between State Council and Six Ministries, the establishment of the Border Defense Council, the later administration of Kyujanggak, the conflicts between political parties, and the advancement of "in-law government", among others. Regardless, the title "Yŏngŭijŏng" continued as the apex in the bureaucratic system throughout the entire Joseon period.