Charity Office / Ever-Normal Granaries, modern-day Seoul, South Korea
| Name in the local language | 賑恤廳/Chinhyulcheong,常平廳/Sangpyeongcheong |
|---|---|
| Place | modern-day Seoul, South Korea |
| Dates of operation | 1626-1894 |
(en)
It was an institution that arose from the combination of two others. The first, the Chinhyulchong was first established temporarily in 1511, and its first official installation occurred in 1525; afterwards, the office was repeatedly established and abolished, depending on famine conditions and fiscal needs. The second was the Sangpyeongcheong, and its first mention dates to 1608.
Sangpyeongcheong was responsible in normal times for price stabiliaation, management of grain, cloth, and cash, and coin production. In times of emergency such as war or severe famine, these functions were reduced, and famine relief operations were initiated using stored grain. In this context, the institution functioned as Chinhyulcheong, focusing on relief activities.
In 1626 both were merged and coordinated, and the combined institution (occasionally and informally referred to as Sang chinh cheong) was regularised as a standing office and placed under the supervision of the Sonhyechong. It was separated from the Sonhyechong and attached to the Pibyon sa in 1661-1686, and to the Kyunyokchong in 1750-1753). Finally, amid the large-scale administrative reforms undertaken in the late 19th century, immediately prior to the proclamation of the Empire, it was officially abolished in 1894.
