Which social problems were satirized in Korean masked plays?

In Korean masked plays, known as sandae, performers frequently utilized satire to critique the social and religious structures of the time. Common themes targeted by these performances included:

• Religious Corruption: Plays often featured scenes criticizing depraved or venial Buddhist monks, highlighting a perceived moral decline within the clergy.1
• Political and Social Corruption: Performances exposed the corruption and greed of the gentry and government officials, holding officialdom up to ridicule.12
• Social Hierarchies: By portraying stock characters such as noblemen, monks, and shamans, the plays provided a platform for popular audiences to mock the rigid social stratification and the behavior of the ruling class.1

These satiric elements served as a form of social commentary, allowing commoners to challenge the authority and integrity of those in positions of power. While these themes were popular among the public, such satire was not always welcomed by the state; for instance, an actor was banished in 1504 for ridiculing the institution of kingship during a court performance.12