기존의 연구는 대체로 우정규가 『경제야언』에서 제시한 제도 개 선안의 내용을 필자의 관심분야에 따라 소개하는 것이었다. 이 논문에서는 우정규의 제도 개선안을 변통론으로 명명하고, 그 기저를 관류하고 있는 사유의 논리적 맥락을 복구함으로써 그 특징을 확인하려 하였다. 그 결과 이 연구에서 얻은 결론은 다음과 같다. 첫째, 우정규의 변통론은 부세의 경감, 군비의 축소, 지방관의 선택, 군주의 수양을 핵심 축으로 하여 구성 되어 있다. 둘째, 그의 변통론은 지방관의 견지에서 본 민생안정론이라는 성격을 띤다. 셋째, 우정규는 갖가지 제도 개선책을 제시하면서도 지배 계 층의 도덕성 회복을 가장 근원적인 처방으로 제시한다. 넷째, 『경제야언』 의 논지 구성은 이이의 영향을 받아서 작성된 부분이 많다. 다섯째, 우정 규 변통론의 논리적 추이는 이이는 물론 주희 등 신유학자들의 경세론과 유사한 구조를 보인다. 여섯째, 이상과 같은 점으로 미루어 우정규의 제도 개선책은 신유학자 일반이 제시하는 제도 개선론의 범위 안에 있는 것으로 판단되며, 실학으로 규정하기는 힘들다고 볼 수 있다.

Existing research on U Chŏng-Kyu are mostly introductions of his plans for system reform presented in his book, A Rustic’s Words on Governace(Kyŏngjeyaŏn). In this paper, I tried to reconstruct the logical context behind the plans that he presented and identify some of their characteristics. The conclusions I have drawn are as follows. First, the main axis of his governance theory is alleviation of tax liability, reduction in military expense, selecting local administrators, and the self-cultivation of the king. Second, his governance theory show the marks of a theory of stabilizing people’s livelihood from the perspective of a local administrator. Third, while U Chŏng-Kyu presents various plans for system reform, he maintains that the recovering personal morality in the ruling class is the most fundamental solution. Fourth, the way his arguments are constructed in A Rustic’s Words on Governace is in many parts written under the influence of Yi I. Fifth, the logical process of U Chŏng-Kyu’s governance theory is in large way quite similar to the governance theory of not only Yi I but also other Neo-Confucians such as Zhu Xi. Sixth, based on these findings, U Chŏng-Kyu’s system reform plans seem to be within the boundaries of those of ordinary Neo-Confucians, and it is difficult to define his thoughts as Sirhak(Practical Learning).

Existing research on U Chŏng-Kyu are mostly introductions of his plans for system reform presented in his book, A Rustic’s Words on Governace(Kyŏngjeyaŏn). In this paper, I tried to reconstruct the logical context behind the plans that he presented and identify some of their characteristics. The conclusions I have drawn are as follows. First, the main axis of his governance theory is alleviation of tax liability, reduction in military expense, selecting local administrators, and the self-cultivation of the king. Second, his governance theory show the marks of a theory of stabilizing people’s livelihood from the perspective of a local administrator. Third, while U Chŏng-Kyu presents various plans for system reform, he maintains that the recovering personal morality in the ruling class is the most fundamental solution. Fourth, the way his arguments are constructed in A Rustic’s Words on Governace is in many parts written under the influence of Yi I. Fifth, the logical process of U Chŏng-Kyu’s governance theory is in large way quite similar to the governance theory of not only Yi I but also other Neo-Confucians such as Zhu Xi. Sixth, based on these findings, U Chŏng-Kyu’s system reform plans seem to be within the boundaries of those of ordinary Neo-Confucians, and it is difficult to define his thoughts as Sirhak(Practical Learning).

U Chŏng-Kyu, A Rustic’s Words on Governace (Kyŏngjeyaŏn), Governance Theory, Yi I, Sirhak