Hongju

Hongju, in western Chungcheong, was a major centre of government during the Joseon dynasty. Its mok supervised three gun and eight hyeon, extending its influence across the Naepo country. Fishing installations and coastal resources were part of its economy, while the chief magistrate combined civil authority with a place in the provincial military system.

A striking episode in 1661 shows how royal symbols affected local status. After the loss of the tablet representing the king in the official guesthouse, Hongju was demoted and renamed Hongyang. Even the province's name changed from Chunghong to Chunggong. Hongju recovered its rank ten years later, but suffered further demotions in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. These collective administrative penalties made the status of an entire district depend on events involving officials and inhabitants.