How do North Koreans refer to the Joseon Dynasty?

Foreigners dont know what made Joseon great. Even few koreans know the full extent to why Joseon or even King Sejong was great. Ok, everyone knows hangul, but what else?

Many young history enthusiasts are drawn to the 3 kingdoms of korea because of the geographical largeness and defiance of China. But Joseon? What do you really know except that it became annexed by Japan in 1910?

A little more knowledgable people will point to the invention of the pluviometer, or the Turtle ship, but material and military invention isnt a unique hallmark of civilization. What is it then?

Two words: Social Progress. Even I didnt know untill I came upon bits of information by chance. This certainly is not promoted enough by korean government nor people, however the new liberal government in korea seems to take a renewed interest in this aspect so thats a good sign.

First of all, the worlds first public opinion poll was administered in Joseon during Sejong's reign to determine tax laws. Some 400,000 people of all classes were surveyed. This was arguable the first true democratic decision making event, where not just the wealthy, but also the poor took part in a referendum of sorts.

Second, the worlds first licensed female doctors were born in 1406, called uinyeo. The confucian value system prohibited grown women from showing their private parts to men that are not their husbands, so women were trained with medicine ad because government paid physicians in state clinics all over the country. Interestingly the female doctors were trained as girls from the lowest classes, and were not considered jobs for yangban women.

Third, the worlds first female police with arrest authority, the Damo were born during Joseon. The damo were selected via a physical test where they must be able to lift a specified weight of rice, be proficient in martial arts, and be very tall for the period. They carried identification that proved their authority, and also wielded a small iron bludgeon used for breaking down doors. Even the sadaebu scholars were known to fear the damo.

Fourth, the worlds first society for the blind was established during by Sejong. Contrary to rest of the world where disability was considered a failing, and sometimes work of the devil, Korean handicapped recieved government welfare in grain and helpouts and quotas for disabled in certain jobs like massageurs, national orchestra, rain festival performers, etc. The first socirty for the blind was created in the West in the 19th century.

Fifth, strong protection of women against rape and sexual crimes was in Joseon. Investigative records show it was a grave crime for even sons of yangban to hug a daughter of a slave from behind, which resulted in the slave beating up the yangban, and the yangban scolding the son, and the son commiting suicide. The yangban tried to frame the sons death on the slave, but government foreinsics team proved it was suicide. This was in the 1700s. Attempted rape is punishable by death. (100 gonjang).

/r/korea Thread