Medieval Korea’s Corruption-Fighting Secret Detectives

In a world where even last names are a fairly recent phenomenon, many regions have only created systems to identify and track their own citizens in the last few centuries. Medieval Korea, on the other hand, was leading the charge in the 1400s, requiring all subjects to carry wooden identity badges. Badges were also a way to identify government officials, specifically the amhaeng osa, or royal secret detectives. These agents were dispatched to the provinces to go undercover and investigate corruption. At the right moment, they would present their royal badge and fire unscrupulous governors on the spot! Come learn about medieval Korea’s secret agent men!