Do you know Eul Paso?

 ◇ Using Eulpaso, the country becomes stronger

 During the reign of King Gogukcheon, the ninth king of Goguryeo, he wielded power recklessly with the fact that he was a relative of Eobiryu, who was in high-ranking government posts, and Queen Wu, who was trying to leave. As the people's resentment increased, King Goguk Cheon tried to punish Eobiryu and Jwagaryo for their sins. Upon hearing this news, Jwagaryeo preemptively attacked the capital city where the king was located. King Goguk called in the soldiers to defeat the rebels of Jwagaryo, and caught and punished the leaders who joined the rebellion.

 When the commotion calms down, King Goguk calls the deputy and gives the following orders. "The government office is given due to personal friendship, and the damage is inflicted on the people because they cannot go to office with virtue or ability. This is because the fruit is not wise, so recommend wise talent." Following the king's order to recommend new talent, the ministers recommended a person named Anryu after discussion. When the king called him and tried to entrust him with the affairs of the country, Anryu told the king. "There is a person who has a greater ability than me. It's a person named Eulpaso. He is a descendant of Eulso, who was a substitute during the reign of King Yuri. Eulpaso is determined, mature, and wise, but he is living by farming because he has not been appointed to the world. In order for the great king to rule the country, please make sure to use Eulpaso." King Gogukcheon recognized the sincerity of Anryu and entrusted the country with Eulpaso as the highest government official.

 Eulpaso, supported by the king of Gogukcheon, did his country work with sincerity. It is said that the people were comfortable and safe inside and outside the country because they handled the prize and punishment carefully and strictly applied the laws and regulations. During this period, Goguryeo implemented the Jingdae Law to help the people in need. The Jingdae Law, which can be seen as today's social security system, is a system in which a spring country, which is easy to starve because it is difficult to obtain food, lends grain according to the number of families of the people and pays it back in October when the harvest is over. Before this system was implemented, the people could not resist hunger, so they often sold themselves as slaves of the nobles. However, when grain could be borrowed through the Jindae Law, the lives of the people became stable. In addition, Goguryeo's finances could be made sound with taxes paid by the common people. Eulpaso died in August 203 while continuing to take care of the country with national affairs even during the reign of King Sansang, who succeeded King Gogukcheon, and it is said that Goguryeo people who came to Eulpaso's funeral cried sadly.

 Cheongeoje is a system that selects people with good behavior, good behavior, and excellent academic and political skills like Eulpaso by recommendation. During the Three Kingdoms Period, talented people were hired through Cheongeo according to orders issued by kings in Goguryeo and Silla. During the Goryeo Dynasty, Cheongeoje became one of the systems to select officials. In "Goryeosa Temple," there is a record that the official was appointed as Cheongeoje during the reign of King Seongjong in 992. Although the implementation period was not constant like the past system, the system was frequently implemented and became a major means of recruiting talent.

◇ What are the criteria for selecting Cheongeoje and talent in the Joseon Dynasty?

 Cheongeoje, which was institutionally established in Goryeo, continued during the Joseon Dynasty. There was a system that required government officials to recommend candidates every three years. Among the scholars from poor and humble families, they revealed hidden talents for the descendants of Manhakdo over 40 years of age, and Cheongbaek-ri who had excellent learning but failed to pass in the past at Sungkyunkwan.

 It is said that in some cases, Lee Jo, who has personnel rights in Article 6 and is not recommended even though he is talented enough to be an official and has reasonable behavior, came forward and recommended it. And if the person was forcibly recommended even though he was not a talented person by using connections, the recommended person was dismissed and the recommended person was also punished. The Cheongeoje Festival was held for the purpose of widely hiring talented people, and it had the effect of hiring hidden talents.