State Collection and Distribution (Gwansu Gwangeup)

Seongjong barred officials from collecting rent on their office land themselves; local governments collected it and passed it on to them.

Once the Jikjeon Law (1466) gave rent rights only to serving officials, they squeezed farmers, collecting more than allowed to provide for retirement. In 1470 Seongjong forbade officials to collect directly and had local governments collect the rent on office land and pay it to them. Officials’ direct hold over land and farmers weakened sharply and state control grew. Officials turned instead to buying land as landlords, paving the way for the abolition of office land under Myeongjong.