During Joseon Dynasty, a tendency of making use of hired labor was expanded based on the background of social, economic development since 17c. This tendency was represented in the diversified areas.
As hired labor was broadly utilized in the diversified fields, labor population engaged in hired labor was increased significantly as well. In the late of Joseon Dynasty, a lot of farmers were separated from the land due to distribution of rice planting method and spread of farming monopoly and it is judged that considerable number of farmers among those separated farmers might have earned their living through this hired labor. The fact that during those times, population of large cities was rapidly increased or a new town was created around mine field supported such social trend.
While hired labor was developed like this since 17c, Ryu, Hyeong-Won(柳馨遠, one of Practical Science School Scholars at an initial stage) suggested an enforcement of Gogong system (a wage worker system) in order to supply substitute labor force of slaves based on his vision of slave system reform. Emphasizing that using wage workers instead of slaves would be beneficial on an individual or state level based on understanding of slave system and wage worker system of China, he insisted that wage workers should be broadly distributed as a substitute labor force of slaves.
In addition, Ryu, Hyeong-Won suggested a detailed plan for extensive enforcement of hired labor(wage workers). In other words, such plan included establishment of relationship between employer and wage workers, mandatory reflection of wage on public official’s salary, expanded use of wage workers in various state projects, enforcement of wage worker system in relief program for helping the disaster victims and adoption of day-worker employment system.
This plan of implementing wage worker system suggested by Ryu, Hyeong-Won has a limitation in that recognition for wage worker existed in Joseon society at that time was hardly represented and the relationship between employer and wage workers was still understood under feudalistic system. However, we may find its important meaning in that salve labor by force based on personal status was restricted and such labor was guided/converted to hired labor. It is considered that Ryu, Hyeong-Won’s suggestion was timely and realistic judgment in view of the situation that particularly in the middle, late of 17c when Ryu, Hyeong-Won staged his activity, hired labor had been gradually developed in the Joseon society. Furthermore, the fact that Ryu, Hyeong-Won had extensively insisted on enforcement of wage worker system implies that hired labor was developed in the Joseon society as much as he insisted.