1735 Jan 19 - Disccusion on Delaying Ulleungdo Inspection - Confirms Usando (于山島) a Neighboring Island

This account is from the records of the Border Defense Council of Joseon (備邊司 - 비변사). The record is interesting in that it not only confirms that Usando (于山島) was a neighboring island of Ulleungdo, but also that the policy of inspecting Ulleungdo every three years was diligently followed, though a request to postpone the inspection in 1734 was granted HERE. There is a brief mention of this discussion in the "Annals of King Yeong Jo" (英祖) HERE.

This record is also mentioned by Kim Jong-ho (金正浩) on his 1834 "Cheonggudo" (靑邱圖) map, where he wrote the following next to Ulleungdo's neighboring island of Usando (于山島): LINK TO MAP

“In the 11th year of Yeongjo (1735), Gangwon Provincial Governor Jo Choi-su reported to the king, ‘A survey of Ulleungdo has found that the land is wide and fertile, and there are signs that people have lived there. Also, to its west is Usando, which is also wide and spacious.’ The so-called “west” character is different on this map, where (Usando) is to the east.”

You may notice in the record below, however, that instead of Gangwon Provincial Governor Jo Choi-su (趙最壽) describing Ulleungdo and its neighboring island of Usando, it looks like it was Haeng Jwachamchan Kim Chui-no  (行 左參贊) who described them.

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Another Petition: Gangwon Governor Jo Choi-su (趙最壽) says, "I am charged with conducting the Ulleungdo (鬱陵島) inspection this year, but the harvest in the province was extremely bad and unavoidable. There are a variety of goods needed for the trip. All the men dispatched, including the commander and the Japanese interpreter, must be cared for. There are many. The cost required while they wait several months for calm winds cannot be adequately accounted for in this year of poor harvest. Many disturbances are expected. I respectfully ask that the mission be postponed this year, and that we wait for a year of abundant harvest to conduct it."

"This year the harvest in Gwandong (Gangwon Province) was, indeed, bad. Providing provisions for many men while they wait several months for calm winds is, indeed, a hardship, but the policy is that it be done once every three years. Already, it was not conducted last year. If it is postponed again this year, it will be the first time to go against policy; nevertheless, by what means do we do it?" 

The King asked, "How do we do this mission? 

Haeng Jwachamchan (左參贊) Kim Chui-ro (金取魯) said, "Between 1697 and 1698 the Royal Court sent Jang Han-sang (張漢相) to make a detailed survey map and return. And I have heard that Ulleungdo is very broad and fertile. Moreover, there are signs that people have lived there. And, to its west is Usando (于山島), which is also said to be wide and spacious. Since then, the policy of one inspection every three years has been followed. This instance of two years of consecutive postponements is different. The officials defending our coast should be admonished and warned that it is wrong to use the hardships of the province's poor harvest to neglect one's duty every year."

Hojopanseo (戶曹判書) Lee Jeong-je (李廷濟) said, "Back during 1697, the Japanese requested we give them Ulleungdo, but the Royal Court back then vehemently admonished them, denied their request, and sent Jang Han-sang (張漢相) to go look at the island. Ever since there has been a policy of going once every three years. This province's poor harvest is definitely something to consider, but neglecting this mission year after year is also serious because it can cause anxiety.

The King said, "What you both say is correct. Waiting for calm winds, even though a hardship, results in fears of crossing the sea and not wanting to go see it. We cannot allow the neglecting of this land to become commonplace. How can we not send someone into there? I think we must conduct the survey this year. It is permissable to assign it to several people.
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又所啓, 江原監司趙最壽狀啓, 鬱陵島搜討, 今年當擧行, 而道內農事不免慘凶, 往來時所入雜物, 皆出民間, 營將及倭學等, 所率甚多, 累朔候風, 所費不貲, 當此荒年, 必多騷擾, 今年姑爲停止, 待年豐擧行事陳請矣, 今年關東年事, 果爲凶歉, 多人治送, 累朔候風, 不無弊端, 而此是定式以三年一往者也, 昨年旣不得擧行, 今年又爲停止, 則雖無當初定式之意, 何以爲之, 上曰, 此事何如, 行左參贊金取魯曰, 丁丑·戊寅年間朝家送張漢相, 看審圖形以來, 而聞 鬱陵島, 廣闊土沃, 曾有人居基址, 或有往來之痕, 其西又有于山島, 而亦且廣闊云矣, 其後仍有三年一搜討之定式, 此與年例操停止有異, 事係海防申飭, 恐不當以本道凶歉些少弊端, 每年停廢矣, 戶曹判書李廷濟曰, 往在丁丑年間, 倭人請得鬱陵島, 故朝家嚴飭不許, 而使張漢相往見此島, 三年一往仍爲定式矣, 本道凶荒, 固爲可念, 而此事之每每停廢, 亦甚可悶矣, 上曰, 兩重臣所達是矣, 候風雖有弊, 而此蓋憚於越海不欲往見之致也, 此地若棄之則已, 不然, 豈可不爲入送耶, 今年則搜討事擧行之意, 分付可也