Yangban

In this episode, we focus on the Yangban, the aristocratic elite of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, and how this powerful class shaped politics, society, and culture through Confucian ideals and control of government office. We explore how Yangban status was theoretically based on success in the state examination system, yet in practice remained concentrated within wealthy hereditary families who had the time and resources to preserve their dominance across generations. The episode also looks at the privileges they enjoyed, including tax exemptions and social authority, as well as the growing corruption and inequality that fueled resentment among the lower classes. Finally, we trace the decline of the Yangban after the 1894 abolition of the caste system and the Japanese occupation, while considering how their legacy still echoes in modern Korean society through enduring respect for education, status, and elite social connections.