also: リャンバン
noun
yangban; traditional Korean ruling class
Historical term for the aristocratic class of the Joseon dynasty in Korea. Used in discussions of Korean history and society.
from Korean
李氏朝鮮時代、両班は特権階級として君臨した。
During the Joseon dynasty, the yangban reigned as a privileged class.
彼の先祖は両班だったと
I heard that his ancestors were yangban.
Alternate reading based on older Sino-Korean pronunciation; rarely used in contemporary Japanese.
From Korean 양반 (yangban), literally 'two groups', referring to the civil and military branches of the ruling class during the Joseon dynasty.