The political significance of the Waegwan

In this chapter we will assess the political significance of the Waegwan. To judge “significance,” we will describe the administrative apparatus and examine the types of concerns the Japanese raised for the Magistrate. We will approach the problem in two ways. First, we will look at the administrative history of Tongnae and describe the duties of the Tongnae functionaries, particularly those connected with the Waegwan. Second, we will statistically quantify the size of the Japanese presence as an administrative concern to the Tongnae Magistrate.3