In Joseon Dynasty, hakucho was called Pekuchon or Petchon and the term for victim of discrimination placed in the lowest rank of the following people of the lower classes (unfree people): Shichihankosen (the following seven kinds of government-owned humble or lowly people: kannuhi [government-owned slave], kisaeng [female entertainers], court lady, Rizoku [lower ranked local government official], ekisotsu [guards], Gokusotsu ogre, criminal fugitive) and Hachihanshisen (the following eight kinds of privately-owned humble or lowly people: miko [a shrine maiden], a craftsman of leather footwear, shirei [musicians of court music], Buddhist monk, saijin [an entertainer], syado [a group which earned a living by singing or dancing, traveling around], kyoshi [people singing, dancing or performing with girls], hakucho).
李氏朝鮮においては「」（ペクチョン/ペッチョン）と呼び、七般公賤（官奴婢、妓生、官女、吏族、駅卒、獄卒、犯罪逃亡者）八般私賤（巫女、革履物の職人、使令：宮中音楽の演奏家、僧侶、才人：芸人、社堂：旅をしながら歌や踊りで生計をたてるグループ、挙史：女連れで歌・踊り・芸をする人、白丁）と言われた賤民（非自由民）のなかで最下位に位置する被差別民を指す言葉である。