This study aims at examining the arrangement of ownership of the royal lands in the late Great Han Empire, on the basis of the case of Woopyeong Myeongrye-gung royal lands. In 1894, Woopyeong, located in Iseo-myeon, Asan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do was newly attached to Myeongrye-gung royal lands because it was regarded as the private property(內帑) of the queen. The royal lands were an important finance. As for the land tax on Myeongrye-gung royal lands, 100 dus(斗) of rough rice was levied on each gyeol(結). Because it was cheaper than that of private lands, tillers who cultivated the lands could exercise their own right. It means that the multi-layered ownership structure could be formed in the lands.
The tillers became aware that they had a right to Myeongrye-gung royal lands. It is to be referred as the evidence that the land tax system changed from a half of crops(打作制) to a fixed amount(賭地制) and that they asked for a tax remission when they were struck by a natural disaster. When they had to pay two taxes in one land unit(一土兩稅) on account of Gabosungchong(甲午陞摠), they made a strong stand. Then they managed to reconcile the method to pay a tax to Myeongrye-gung.
The Governmental arrangement of land ownership was started by the Gabo Reform. Ulmisapan(乙未査辦) and Guangmusagum(光武査檢) were also a part of this policy. In this process, the Great Han Empire tried to recognize and arrange the multi-layered ownership. It was reflected on Guangmu Terrier(『光武量案』) which resulted from Guangmuyangjeon(光武量田, land investigation project in Guangmu). Therefore, making a comparison between Harvest Record(『秋收記』) and Guangmu Terrier, it is possible to identify the presence of the Jungdabju(中畓主, semi-landowner or semi-tenant).
The Great Han Empire carried strongly forward the state-owned lands expanding policy to expand finances for the modern reformation. But this wasn''t an attempt to establish, with ignoring the traditional rights, only the exclusive ownership forcibly. Accordingly, Myeongrye-gung royal lands, composed of its complex relation of ownership, remained unaffected by the rise in taxes during the Great Han Empire era. In addition, the Jungdabju was acknowledged with their ownership of the lands, in the light of being recorded as one of the possessors on Guangmu Terrier. It means that, according to Guangmu Terrier, they had the real rights of the lands. It was the very feature of the land investigation project in the late Great Han Empire era to simultaneously acknowledge and adjust the various rights on the lands. And also, it was a difference from that of the Japanese Empire. To conclude, Myeongrye-gung royal lands may be a case that proves the acknowledgement of the Jungdabju''s rights in the then Guangmuyangjeon.