A Study on Governor Lee Hyung-sang's Perception of Jeju

Byeong-wa Lee Hyeong-sang (甁窩 李衡祥, 1653~1733), remembered by Jeju, is the first person to be mentioned in discussing the identity of Jeju, and is a person who is both respected and hated. During his tenure of just over a year, he reported as many as 21 “Janggye” to the king, intending to completely change Jeju from its origin. This paper focuses on the great influence he had on Jeju, and tries to discuss the motivation through the question of 'for what'. As a result of examining the other side of various projects he conducted in Jeju and reading according to their context, the perceptions that 'JejuSam-eup is the most important area for national defense' and 'Jeju Sam-eup is geographically a territory of Joseon dynasty, however did not have identity of it.' were confirmed. However, it is unreasonable to point out these two as the motivation, as this was a perception shared by previous and later local government officials as well. Therefore, as a result of inferring the basic layers of these two perceptions mentioned above, he, as a member of the royal family, intended to subjugate JejuSam-eup, which is a part of Joseon dynasty, but did not have an identity of it, as a part of its territory and also as a complete subject of Joseon dynasty on behalf of the king [Sukjong]. It would be the most appropriate to consider that he had done a great reformation in such a short time.