Gwangjong of Goryeo

King Gwangjong issued a decree freeing thousands of slaves and commoners who had been unjustly enslaved. This reform weakened the power of the aristocratic clans, strengthened the central monarchy, and increased the tax-paying population of Goryeo.

Gwangjong introduced a Chinese-style civil service examination (gwageo) to select government officials based on merit rather than birth. This reform reduced the influence of the entrenched aristocracy and promoted a more centralized, bureaucratic state.

King Gwangjong ordered the execution or exile of numerous powerful nobles and their families, including many who had opposed his reforms. This violent purge eliminated opposition to his centralization policies but created a climate of fear and resentment among the elite.