COREA. 
527 
IX.— CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF COREA. 
By CHRISTOPHER THOMAS GARDNER , C.M.G., Ac. 
Corea is an independent State under the protection of China, to 
which country she sends an annual tribute. 
The Emperor of China sends an envoy to Corea on occasion of a 
new sovereign coming to the throne, or a new heir apparent being 
designated. Their envoy invests the king and heir apparent with the 
regalia. There is also in Soul, the capital of Corea, a permanent 
Chinese Residency. The Chinese Resident influences but does not 
control Corea’s foreign relations and internal administration. 
Besides the general treaties of protection with China, Corea has 
entered into treaties with the following countries: — Austro -Hungary. 
China, September, 18S2, regulating maritime and overland trade 
between Chinese and Corean subjects; March, 1S83, regulating 
frontier trade, Liao-tung and Corea, France, 4th June, 1886. Great 
Britain, 6th June, 1882; 26th November, 1883. Germany, 26th 
November, 1883. Italy, 26th June, 1884. Japan, 26th February, 
1876 ; 24th August, 1876; 14th October, 1876 ; 30th January, 1877 ; 
20th December, 1877 ; 30th August, 1879 ; 4th August, 1881 ; 30th 
August, 1882 ; 25th July, 1883 ; 30th September, 1883; 9th January, 
1885; 12th November, J889. Russia, 25th June, 1884. United 
States, 22nd May, 1882. The text of the above treaties, except that 
with Austro- 11 ungary, will be found in “ China Imperial Maritime 
Customs, iii., Miscellaneous Series No. 19” : London, P. S. King and 
Son, Canada Building, King street, Westminster, 1891. 
The constitution of Corea is an absolute hereditary monarchy, but 
with a power vested in the sovereign to adopt an heir if the natural 
lineage fails. The present sovereign was adopted, but is a member of 
the Royal line. 
There are three estates in the realm — king, nobles, and common 
people. Nobility descends to all the children. None but nobles are 
eligible for the higher civil or military appointments, and even nobles 
are not eligible unless they have passed an examination and obtained 
a literary degree. 
The Royal family at present consists of the King, aged about 
forty-two ; the Queen, about the same age ; the Crown Prince and 
Princess, and the father of the King. 
The officers of the palace are principally eunuchs, the chief of 
whom exercises considerable influence. 
There is a Cabinet Ministry, consisting of three high officials. 
Besides this there are two offices and six boards. 
The tw r o offices are the Foreign Office and the Home Office. The 
personnel of each of these offices is as follows: — 1 president, 2 vice- 
presidents, 1 councillor, 25 (about) secretaries. 
The six Boards arc as follow : — Board of Civil Offices, Board of 
Revenue, Board of Ceremonies, Board of War, Board of Punishments, 
Board of Works. 
Each Board has 1 president, 1 vice-president, 1 councillor, 12 
senior secretaries, 13 junior secretaries. 
