Grant of Office Land (Gwallyojeon)

King Sinmun granted office land to civil and military officials by rank; holders could collect only the land tax from it.

In the year of his accession (681) King Sinmun crushed the revolt of his father-in-law Kim Heum-dol and purged the aristocracy. While rebuilding the state — founding the Gukhak academy (682) and completing the nine provinces and five secondary capitals — he granted office land in 687.

Gwallyojeon gave an official only the right to collect the grain tax on the land. Unlike the nogeup stipend villages, it allowed no tribute and no command over the labour of the people on it. It cut into the economic base of the aristocracy and brought land and people under direct state control. In 689 the nogeup were abolished in favour of an annual grain stipend.

In 722 King Seongdeok granted jeongjeon land to commoners. But under pressure from the nobility, King Gyeongdeok restored the nogeup in 757, and royal power weakened again.