The Operation and Characteristics of the Retirement System (Ch'isaje, 致仕制) in the Koryŏ Dynasty (10th-13th Centuries)

This study investigates the operation and characteristics of the retirement system (致仕制, ch'isaje) in the Koryŏ Dynasty from the 10th to the 13th century. Shifting the scholarly focus from recruitment to the “exit” mechanism, this research reveals that the retirement system was a prestigious institution reserved for officials of the 3rd rank or higher, clearly distinguished from the compulsory dismissal of lower-ranking bureaucrats. Unlike in the Tang and Song dynasties, high-ranking officials were strictly compelled to request retirement (致仕, ch'isa) upon meeting the requirements ―specifically, attaining the age of 70 and meeting certain health-related conditions―due to strong social pressure. The retirement process comprised two stages with distinct characteristics: one was a ceremonial ritual, and the other was a formal personnel administrative procedure. Retired officials, revered as elder statesmen (國老, kungno), enjoyed significant privileges, including retirement stipends and various benefits. Ultimately, the retirement system played a pivotal role in facilitating the systematic circulation of personnel within the Koryŏ bureaucracy.