“Yangban”(양반) is the scholar class of the Josun ( 조선) dynasty in Korea (1392-1897).
These scholars are technically upper class, however this didn’t mean they were in better living conditions. Many Yangban’s were in squaller; poor, starving, and often doing payless research or teaching the neighbourhood youth for food.
The Yangban class have always been one of my favourite parts about Korean history and culture as they are part of many folklore and often used as an example for virtue (sometimes the opposite).
.
Technically speaking, the teachers shown in this photo were probably past Yangban’s as the Josun class system was abolished in 1897.
Dang these teachers look beat.
