Residence Patterns and Characteristics of Yeokin(驛人) in Joseon Dynasty Form Registration(形止案) : Focusing on the Sagundo Hyeongjian of 1747

This study analyzes the Sagundo Hyeongjian (沙斤道形止案, Form Registration of Sagundo) of 1747 to examine the residence patterns of Yeokin (驛人, postal station worker) in late Joseon, aiming to understand the operation of the Yeokdo (驛道, organized groups of postal stations) postal system. The Hyeongjian, compiled by the Chalbang (察訪, chief of Yeokdo), recorded Yeokin in Ho (戶, household) units, including details like Jikyeok (職役, service type), name, age, ancestral information, residence, and escape history. Notably, Ilsus (日守, daily laborers) were recorded individually, unlike Yeokri (驛吏, postal station personnel) and Yeoknobi (驛奴婢, postal station slave). Interestingly, some Sagun Station (沙斤驛) Yeokri resided outside their assigned Gunhyeon (郡縣, prefecture-county), showing that Yeokin did not necessarily live within station locations. While 56% of Yeokho(驛戶, household of postal station) resided in Yeokchon(驛村, postal station village), over 29% lived elsewhere, either within the same Gunhyeon or in different Gunhyeon. Sagunyeok had a higher proportion of external residents, likely due to its administrative role. Sokyeok (屬驛, branch postal stations) had more local residents, but some Yeokho lived far away. These patterns stemmed from Yeokin’s recruitment, Yeokdo characteristics, and factors like marriage, Yeokjeon (驛田, postal station land) allocation, and Napgong (納貢, tax in service payment). The Hyeongjian categorized Yeokin by Jikyeok regardless of their location. Missing residence records usually indicated inability to serve due to death or escape. The study shows the Yeokdo managed Yeokin across a wide area, surpassing Gunhyeon boundaries, highlighting the need for Yeokin tracking at the Yeokdo level, not the Gunhyeon level.