An Era When Success Depends on Family Background

 

Bank of Korea Proposes Educational Policy

The Bank of Korea (BOK), South Korea’s central bank, functions as an independent, non-profit institution responsible for researching and implementing the nation’s monetary and credit policies. Despite a declining school-age population in 2024, the recent expansion of medical school quotas has intensified entrance competition, and housing prices in Seoul are once again rising. In response, the BOK released a report titled “Social Issues from Intensified Entrance Competition and Countermeasures.” The report highlights that competitive pressure in entrance exams leads to various social issues, including increased private education costs, educational opportunity inequality, decreased social mobility, declining birth rates, overpopulation in metropolitan areas, student emotional instability, and poor educational outcomes. The data revealed a clear link between parents' socioeconomic status and students' entrance exam performance, underscoring that students' opportunities are largely determined by family background.

To curb the rise in Seoul's real estate prices, the BOK suggested that Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University adopt a regional proportional admission system. This approach encourages universities to allocate the majority of their admission quotas based on the distribution of school-age populations across different regions, while allowing universities to autonomously determine their own admissions criteria and selection methods. The Bank of Korea's involvement in education policy has garnered significant public attention. Let’s look into groups from the past where wealth and power were inherited, making it easier for children to achieve success simply by having influential parents.

The Nine-Rank System and the Birth of Aristocracy in Ancient China

The Nine-Rank System, also known as the Jiupin Zhongzheng system, was an ancient Chinese talent assessment system that began during the late Eastern Han period and continued until the Qing dynasty. Under this system, each regional commandery appointed a Zhongzheng official who was responsible for evaluating local candidates and recommending talented individuals for government service. While recommendations from impartial and insightful assessors had the potential to identify capable officials, corruption and favoritism often arose. Many appointees to the Zhongzheng role were influential and wealthy locals who prioritized recommending their own relatives or associates. As a result, the Nine-Rank System helped entrench local elite families, transforming them into a noble aristocracy with stable political power. This privileged class reached its peak during the Southern Dynasties, especially under the Song and Qi states. For those born into these aristocratic families, positions of power were almost guaranteed.

 

Chinese Aristocracy during the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The “Eumseo” System and the Rise of the Goryeo Nobility

In early Goryeo, the “Munbeol” nobility, a class of civil aristocrats, dominated the central government. This group was composed of local leaders integrated into Goryeo’s centralized structure and Confucian scholars from the Silla dynasty’s Six Head Rank system. Through both the civil service exam and the Eumseo system, which allowed positions to be inherited without examination, these families continued to supply government officials. While many early Munbeol aristocrats took pride in passing the civil exams to secure office, later generations increasingly relied on the Eumseo system, considering the civil exam less important. However, as they grew more complacent, many Munbeol nobles became arrogant, neglecting their studies and often disregarding the military class. This led to resentment, eventually culminating in a coup by military officials, which resulted in the downfall of numerous Munbeol nobles.

"Ajeopdo": A Depiction of the Lifestyle of Goryeo Aristocrats

 

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