Did Koreans have slaves?
VERDICT
CONFIDENCE
100%
Direct Answer
Koreans had slaves known as 'nobi' from the Three Kingdoms and Silla periods through Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, spanning roughly 1,500 years without interruption. These slaves were bought, sold, inherited, and originated largely from war captives. Slavery persisted due to stable aristocratic rule and declined spontaneously in the 18th century amid runaway slaves.
What the Evidence Shows
Historical records confirm an unbroken chain of slavery in Korea, with nobi treated as chattel property equivalent to slaves in other cultures, as evidenced by the Joseon 'jangye-won' office for managing them. Unlike some claims distinguishing nobi as mere serfs, they were traded and owned outright. Runaway slaves represented resistance that contributed to slavery's eventual decline without open rebellions.
Why People Get This Wrong
Some Korean scholars argue nobi were not true slaves but servants or serfs, citing linguistic differences like 'nobi' vs. 'noye' in other cultures and downplaying their commodification. This view is refuted by evidence of buying, selling, inheritance, and state offices explicitly for slave management, aligning nobi with global slavery definitions.
What were Korean slaves called?
Korean slaves were called 'nobi,' managed by the Joseon 'jangye-won' office. They were bought, sold, inherited, and traded, synonymous with 'noye' in slave administration contexts. This distinguishes them linguistically but confirms their slave status.
How long did slavery last in Korea?
Slavery persisted continuously from the Three Kingdoms/Silla era through Goryeo and Joseon dynasties, about 1,500 years, due to peaceful dynastic transitions preserving aristocratic slave ownership. It began declining in the 18th century via runaways, without formal abolition until later.
Why did Korean slavery decline?
Slavery declined spontaneously in the 18th century due to consistent runaway slaves, who fled despite risks of recapture or death, rather than open rebellions. State efforts to regulate slave hunting recognized their humanity, accelerating erosion of the system while initially sustaining it.
Sources & Methodology
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