HISTORY OF INTERPRETING IN THE JOSEON DYNASTY: Six selected interpreting officials

Neighboring China and Japan, Joseon had a specialized institution called sayeokwon for diplomatic affairs, teaching foreign languages and training interpreting officials, which lasted until almost the end of the Joseon dynasty. Established at the end of Goryeo (1389), this institution temporarily disappeared from history with the fall of the kingdom. In 1393, it reappeared in the annals of the Joseon dynasty in a sentence that calls to “install sayeokwon and teach Chinese.” Mongolian, Japanese, and Jurchen (later changed to Manchu) were included subsequently. Interpreters played a practical and important role in diplomatic relations from the beginning of the dynasty; they taught foreign languages and left behind textbooks. The royal court was well aware of the importance of foreign languages and communication but the status of yeokgwan, or interpreters, was not high because they mainly handled tasks involving words, public trade, and commerce, and stemmed from the middle-class or lower. Promotions were strictly limited, although there were some exceptional figures. The present study outlines the path to becoming an official interpreter in the Joseon dynasty following a brief historic background of that time. From an estimated 3,000 and more interpreting officials, six extraordinary yeokgwan are introduced. The study attempts to chart a new approach to present a socio-cultural history of interpreting officials.