A Review of Korean Landownership System from the Chosŏn Dynasty

This study investigates the change of Korean landownership system from the Chosŏn dynasty to the Japanese colonial period. Even though the landownership system in the Chosŏn period was not the complete private landownership, basic freedom of ownership, use, trade, disposal, and inheritance of land are secured. The Japanese imperialists introduced a modern land-system and destroy the land-system and the peasants rights of land. Such introduction of a modern land-system not only promoted the commercialization of land, but also excluded peasants from landownership. The leasehold system that had continuously developed during the late Chosŏn must be restored in the future. If the right of land is diversified by our traditional practices,it will ensure reasonable use of our land.