[Korea Root] Joseon Merchants Backed by 'Behind-the-Scenes Power'

Brawl Erupts Among Merchants Over East Coast Seafood Sales
Collusion with Power Elite Secures Advantageous Position in Market Competition

Late Joseon Dynasty Capital Street Vendor [National Institute of Korean History]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] In the late Joseon period, frequent conflicts occurred between sijon merchants (市廛商人) and sasangdogos (私商都賈), who had expanded their influence based on economic power, in the areas outside the capital city, such as the Gyeonggang (Han River area under Hansungbu jurisdiction) basin in Seoul and Gwangju and Yangju in Gyeonggi Province.

According to the Gyeonggi Province History, Son Dogang, who was active based in Samjeondo (now Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul) and the nearby Songpa market, was a representative sasangdogo merchant who possessed large capital and a nationwide distribution network without government approval.

He purchased large quantities of dried seafood directly from production sites and sold them wholesale to private merchants in Seoul and nearby areas, making substantial profits.

Son Dogang was originally a wealthy man living in Seoul, but he moved his residence near Gyeonggang (the Han River area under Hansungbu jurisdiction) and conducted trade while traveling between Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi areas. He contracted with wealthy men living in Yangju and Gwangju to raise tens of millions of geum, then went to the fishery production site in Wonsan, Hamgyeong-do, bought seafood by shipload, stockpiled it, and manipulated prices. Meanwhile, he also collected dried pollack in intermediate distribution points such as Yangju and Pocheon and sold them at his discretion. (...) Son Dogang is the leader of those who operate illegal markets (nanjeon) on the main roads of Yangju and Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province. - 『Gakjeon Gisa各廛記事』 Human Volume, February 1804

In particular, the brawl between Gyeonggi merchants and Seoul sijon merchants over the rights to sell seafood from the East Coast reveals the commercial situation of the time.

In early August 1805, just before Chuseok, Son Dogang headed to Seoul with about 20 merchants under his command, carrying seafood purchased in Wonsan on the East Coast on horseback.

The dried pollack, cod, and seaweed he bought amounted to more than 50 barrels, intended for the Chuseok market, which had higher demand than usual.

Reference Material (Dried Seafood Merchant in the 1940s) [National Institute of Korean History]

As Son Dogang entered the Yangju area near Seoul, he began to tense up. He instructed his party to narrow the gaps between the horses carrying the cargo and to watch their surroundings carefully.

When Son Dogang and his group reached around Toegyewon (now Toegyewon-myeon, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi Province), robust men blocked their path.

They were mostly seafood market merchants from Seoul's sijon. They threatened Son Dogang, saying they would pay the market price if he handed over all the seafood to them.

However, Son Dogang firmly refused the deal. He already had a sales agreement with middlemen in Seoul, and he had no legal obligation to hand over the goods to these sijon merchants.

Moreover, the Toegyewon area was not under Hansungbu jurisdiction, nor was it subject to the 'Geumnanjeon-gwon (禁亂廛權)'.

'Geumnanjeon-gwon' was a privilege granted by the state in the late Joseon period to regulate illegal markets (nanjeon) for sijon (official market stalls).

The area where 'Geumnanjeon-gwon' could be exercised was limited to within the capital city and a 10-ri radius outside it, and was basically restricted to Hansungbu jurisdiction.

Doseongdo [Gyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies]

Therefore, the urgent party was the seafood market merchants of Seoul's sijon. They were unable to secure enough dried seafood to supply the Chuseok market because dried seafood from northeastern regions such as Wonsan and Tongcheon was not properly imported.

That year, private merchants in the Gyeonggi region purchased dried seafood in large quantities from production sites and nearby collection points. They also bought dried seafood brought by middlemen from production sites in Yangju and Pocheon areas and directly sold them to private merchants in Seoul without going through the sijon.

Seafood market merchants, having learned that Son Dogang was purchasing dried seafood, waited at Toegyewon, a distribution route entrance to Seoul, and confronted Son Dogang, demanding that he sell the dried seafood to them.

The shortage of supply was so severe that the atmosphere was too rough to be considered a negotiation.

The seafood market merchants claimed they were state-certified merchants backed by powerful patrons and pressured Son Dogang to sell.

However, Son Dogang had no intention of handing over the dried seafood to them from the start. Perhaps because of this, the confrontation with the seafood market merchants did not last long.

The tone grew harsh, a scuffle broke out, and the negotiation quickly escalated into violence. Son Dogang's group, which was larger in number and armed, had the upper hand in physical force.

Dozens of people suddenly surrounded us without much word and beat us severely. They even drew knives, scolded, and cursed. I have fled from such tyranny more than once. If these commercial activities are not strictly prohibited, sijon merchants will not be able to conduct proper business and will eventually become so destitute that they can barely make a living. - 『Gakjeon Gisa各廛記事』 Human Volume, August 1805

Joseon Peddlers [National Institute of Korean History / Kansong Art and Culture Foundation Collection]

Son Dogang had been reported several times to Hansungbu by seafood market merchants for secretly conducting illegal markets (nanjeon) since two years before the Toegyewon brawl.

However, each time he was released by claiming that he was a peddler (haengsang) who wandered and sold goods, not an illegal market operator. The background of these victories included the influence of high-ranking government officials and powerful patrons.

Since the mid-18th century, sasang (private merchants), including Son Dogang, who developed Songpa Market into a nationwide market, rapidly grew in the Gyeonggi region where 'Geumnanjeon-gwon' did not apply.

Sasang made huge profits through hoarding and speculation backed by large-scale capital and secured advantageous positions in commercial disputes through collusion with the ruling class.

On the other hand, sijon, which had exclusive rights to supply goods needed by the royal family and government offices, gradually lost their previous influence.

Reference and citation: Gyeonggi Province History [Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation]

Photos: National Institute of Korean History, Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies, Kansong Art and Culture Foundation

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.