Opening Remarks: Studying for Self-Respect and Happiness, Politics for Coexistence and Solidarity—Cho Kuk
Opening Remarks: What Are You Afraid of? - Jeong Yeo-ul

1 Growing study

Heart: The heart that makes you a warrior in times of crisis
The courage that transformed him from a scholar to a warrior
I've always had literature
Les Misérables: The Courage to Overcome Difficult Times
Taebaek Mountains: A Spirit of Protecting People from Ideological Conflict
The way to regain lost self-esteem
The art of mind care
Cho's orphan and 'no right to sue'
Towards those who collect and purge their opponents
Singing "Arirang Alone" and Realizing You're Not Alone

Reading: To find an axe to break the dull life
A boy who loved studying Chinese characters
Closed-door reading, a time to close the door and immerse yourself in a book
"The Boy Comes": The Courage of Humans Facing Trauma
Literacy, the power to think for oneself
Women's Copies of the Constitution: A First in Our Constitutional History
Daily life of reading and sharing books
Reading that changes your destiny

Learning: A communal study that considers everything from oneself to nature.
What is community learning?
Education reform to prevent endless cutthroat competition
From a power elite to a symbiotic elite
Medical school and law school
Studying to find alternatives
Philosophizing through Film
Studying that protects my dignity is not lonely.

2 Participatory study

Yeon (連): The struggle and solidarity for a lost Korea to find its way again.
Koreans' political and social DNA
The beautiful miracle created by the revolution of light
What happens when you are loyal only to yourself
Cut the sorrow with a knife that sticks out in your chest
Dichotomous view of international relations
The essence hidden in numerical calculations
Defendant Yoon Seok-yeol is dismissed.
The Power of K-Democracy
The disgrace of K-elite
Fire back
Search and seizure
The interpretation of the legal elite and the people's right to choose
A time for dialogue, compromise, and firmness.
Where are we going

People: When politics with good intentions develops democracy
The most beautiful scenery I've seen since I was born
What kind of ideology are you?
crowd, mob, crowd
Decentralization Constitutional Amendment
The weak and welfare
Political, economic, and social democratization
The tragedy of one-sided power
Fact-checking legacy media and YouTube
Elitism in Korean society
About social rights

Law: Things you see when you know the law
Why I Study Law
Dharma stele and Dharma plume
Even if the law is fair, if the lawyers are not fair
Retrial, the power to change a wrongful verdict
Gender bias in criminal law
Liberation from everyday violence
Are acts defined as crimes really crimes?

3. Studying to survive

In (人): The driving force that makes us love human weaknesses
In memory of my respected junior, Jong-cheol Park
My shining friend, Choi Kang-wook
The intellectual of intellectuals, writer Yoo Si-min
Friendship, a relationship that shines even brighter in difficult times
About the Master
The virtue of gathering comrades
A leader, someone who points the finger at himself rather than others.

Seung (勝): May everyone live a life of victory.
Living alone, a time to look inward
Letter from prison
What has changed and what has not changed
Without saying anything, just write the word 'victory'
Victory of the Wounded

Life: A fiery wounded healer
A book written with bare hands in the lowest place
The true meaning of success, inner happiness
gentle person, scary person
Hunting for the Fatherland, Not the Fatherland Situation, and What Happened After That
Politics of Terms and Conditions and Politics of Yi Sun
Wounded Healer
A phrase to be engraved on the heart
Pride and Prejudice
The Living Antigone
If I am released to the human homeland
Aging gracefully

4 Healing Studies

First Encounter with the Fatherland in 2009: Dreaming of a Reflective Progress in Democracy
Where is democracy headed in Korean society after Roh Moo-hyun?
We are each erecting our own tombstone in our hearts.
The flashy lip service of moderate practicality
Are the 'politics of desire' and democracy at odds?
Creative Class Betrayal or the Institutionalization of Hope
The Path to Institutionalizing Happiness
The oxygen of democracy, so precious

Reuniting with the Fatherland in 2023: Studying Saved Me
The Beginning of Intelligence: The Courage to Apologize with Sincerity
Studying Chinese characters in childhood: the beginning of "The Studying Fatherland"
They can never kill me
I, we will not fall apart
The study of empathy, passionate solidarity with fellow citizens

Jeong Yeo-ul's Rewriting of the Fatherland in 2025: The Theory of the Fatherland
Studying to give strength even in pain
Presenting a milestone of progress - Reflective Progress
First Impressions of a Dialogue-Open Homeland: "Progressive Government Plan"
A Time to Find Hope in Despair - "The Time of the Fatherland"
Finding Hope Even in the Worst Dictatorship - "Dike's Tears"
South Korea's Blueprint: "A Pay-as-you-go Advanced Country"
Jurist Cho Kuk's Renowned Lectures - "A Walk Through Cho Kuk's Classic Laws"
Finding the Center of Mind in a World Divided by Pros and Cons

A world where only those who struggle can find happiness - Jeong Yeo-ul
Americas

The Power to Cultivate Hope and Optimism in Times of Despair and Pessimism
Reading the deep inner self of the fatherland now
Former President Moon Jae-in recommends author Jo Jeong-rae!

What kind of study do we need now?
Life without a script and the power of reflection

『The Study of the Fatherland』 is a book filled with deep thoughts and insights cultivated through ‘closed-door study.’
From closing the door and reflecting on oneself to thinking about the growth of the nation and community, it asks again what true study is.
This study is also a question that should be asked by all who endure pain and trials, pursue self-esteem and happiness, and further, seek coexistence and solidarity.
This book explores and contemplates how we can continue to speak the voice of our times without collapsing through study, crossing literature and law, social science and humanities, prisons and public squares.
It goes beyond 'studying for survival' and emphasizes the need for 'studying for dignity', and talks about the strength to never stop reading and writing no matter what difficulties one faces, the courage to rise again after experiencing the catastrophe of the destruction of one's family, and the perseverance to constantly plan and practice for the 'institutionalization of happiness'.

This book is divided into four parts.
Part 1, “Growing Study,” shows the journey of restoring broken self-esteem and developing inner strength through mindfulness, closed-door reading, and communal learning.
Part 2, “Participatory Study,” proposes civic study for the restoration of democracy, fairness in real politics, and legal justice.
Part 3, “Studying to Survive,” is a record of prison life, where the prisoner practiced patience and never let go of the bonds of friendship, solidarity, and reason.
The final part, Part 4, “Healing Study,” encapsulates the trajectory of his life and thoughts through the three encounters between Cho Kuk and Jeong Yeo-ul and Cho Kuk’s writings.

“Life has no script.
A completely unexpected misfortune occurs and you suffer as a result.
If we pursue change while clashing with vested interests, it may have been planned from the beginning.
To avoid collapsing in the face of this ordeal, you must maintain faith in the value of what you have set out to do and in people.
And we need to reflect and contemplate with a cool head on ourselves and the world.
For this, study is essential.
Because of the accumulated studies I had accumulated over time, I was able to rise again through politics without being discouraged by the judgments of the prosecution and the court.
“I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the ideology and vision of the politician Cho Kuk, and the struggles and aspirations of the human Cho Kuk before he became a politician.” (Cho Kuk, “Introduction: Studying for Self-Respect and Happiness, Politics for Coexistence and Solidarity”)

What is growing study?
The essence of the intellectual origins and philosophical reflections of the fatherland

Part 1 of this book begins with a story about 'courage'.
The fatherland emphasizes that faith in people and history is the source of courage, and that faith held deep within is the power to overcome adversity.
This is a confession of the process of enduring hardships with dignity, from the path of a scholar to the path of a fighter, to the path of helping to judge those who had distorted the Constitution through letters from prison.
When Cho Kuk feels shaken in a reality rife with sophistry, he thinks about his “true self” and “affirmation of life,” and says, “I gain the strength to live in the present and look forward to the future by looking back on history, which is interwoven with success and failure, advance and retreat, faith and betrayal” (〈I Always Had Literature〉).

He finds inspiration to overcome life's difficulties in reading.
While in prison, he reads literary works such as Les Misérables, Taebaek Mountains, and A Boy Acts, as well as classics such as Mencius, Xunzi, and Records of the Grand Historian, and even the memoirs of elders who have weathered the turbulent waves of modern history. He ponders “the appearance of the protagonists who overcome upheaval and trials” (“Les Misérables, Courage to Overcome Difficult Times”) and gains “the wisdom necessary to live in this time and space” (“The Boy Who Loved Studying Chinese Characters”).

“Reading a book allows the reader to communicate and empathize with the author, transforming and reconstructing themselves.
Your way of thinking and behavior may also change.
When this accumulates, a person develops his or her own perspective.
“That perspective constitutes the uniqueness and independence of each person, and when such perspective exists, a person is reborn as a subjective human being.” (〈Reading that Changes Destiny〉) He defines the meaning of reading as follows, and studies are “knowing the essence and operating principles of oneself, humans, society, and nature” (〈What is Community Study〉), and clearly states the need for educational reform to prevent “endless cutthroat competition.”

“We need to unite all national and public universities into one system, establish specialized universities in each region, and foster them by concentrating and allocating human resources.” (“Educational Reform to Prevent Infinite Cutthroat Competition”) “We also need reforms to drastically lower tuition fees at national and public universities.” (“Educational Reform to Prevent Infinite Cutthroat Competition”) “During the 2025 June 3 presidential election, the ruling and opposition parties each proposed ‘creating 10 Seoul National Universities’ and ‘joint degree programs between Seoul National University and regional universities,’ and it is important to put them into practice.” (“Educational Reform to Prevent Infinite Cutthroat Competition”) emphasizes.

What is participatory learning?
The dangers and greatness of K-democracy and the advanced social rights of the country

Part 2 sheds light on the meaning of participatory learning, focusing on ‘solidarity and citizenship,’ ‘democracy and responsible politics,’ and ‘legal sensitivity.’
Cho Kuk speaks resolutely about the crisis of democracy, from the unconstitutional and illegal martial law of December 3rd to the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol on April 4th, and the series of events that occurred within it.
“Professional politicians and social activists are a minority, but the entire nation watches, remembers, and engraves them in its memory” (Koreans’ Political and Social DAN).
The courageous solidarity of citizens against dictatorship, oppression, abuse of power, and unconstitutional and illegal martial law reminds us that this is the essence and hope of Korean democracy.

He wished the Lee Jae-myung administration success, saying, “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to realize reforms that will change the framework of the Republic of Korea, including prosecution reform, judicial reform, and media reform.
I hope that the administration will implement various reforms early in its term, along with measures to revitalize the economy and strengthen people's livelihoods.
Power must be used when it is available.
“Reforms should be carried out when the government’s approval rating is high,” he suggests in “Where Are We Going?”
This book also poses the question, “Are our people living in the advanced country of the Republic of Korea happy?” (On Social Rights), and states that the happiness of the people depends on the structure and system of politics.
It also presents concrete measures for achieving substantive democracy, such as institutionalizing social rights based on the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, constitutional amendments for decentralization, and comprehensive anti-discrimination laws.

“Social rights are different from welfare.
As the word 'right' suggests, this is the right of the people.
Social rights, rooted in the UN Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, must be stipulated in the Constitution and, even before that, implemented through laws, systems, and policies.
Only then can we improve the lives of our citizens, who are insecure and precarious.
Furthermore, K-democracy can become even stronger.” (On Social Rights)

Meanwhile, he is wary of the distortion of the 'rule of law'.
Even in a reality where the 'rule of law' is being reduced to 'rule by law', he criticizes the elitism and excessive punitiveness of lawyers, emphasizing that "the reason for studying law is to ensure that democracy is implemented" (Why I Study Law).
We pledge to continuously strive for an order that prioritizes citizens' freedom and rights, and for 'substantial democracy.'

What is the study of survival?
A brilliant thought written from the lowest place with bare hands

Part 3 most vividly reveals the human side of the fatherland.
Through his relationships with people around him, including martyr Park Jong-cheol, former lawmaker Choi Kang-wook, and writer Yoo Si-min, he tells us that values ​​such as friendship, camaraderie, and leadership are the foundation of life.
Here we will realize anew that true friendship is not a bomb shot, but an outstretched hand in silence.

Now, in his solitary cell, he quietly looks into his inner self and calmly depicts how humans come to love their own weaknesses, how letters received from prison can be a comfort, and how a wounded person can recover and become a healer of others.
"What do you truly desire, what are you pursuing? What cannot be given up, no matter the difficulties or trials?" (From "Living Alone, Time to Look Within Yourself").

He will never forget the face of an inmate in prison who held up a piece of paper with the word 'victory' written on it.
That 'victory' meant the resurrection of the individual, the victory of the people, and the victory of democracy.
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future,” says Cho Kuk, quoting Oscar Wilde.
“I, too, live with a humble heart and attitude as a prisoner.” (〈Writing only the word ‘victory’ without saying anything〉) ‘Victory’ is not just the result of an election, but the name of those who rise again even in despair.

In Part 3, Jo Gook examines what has and has not changed in the politics of the terms and conditions and the politics of Yi Sun, what he would do first if he were released as a human Jo Gook, and whether there is a blueprint for aging gracefully.
And about what a 'successful life' is, he says this:
“I think the question that determines whether you are successful is, ‘Are you happy?’
This question asks whether you are someone who is recognized and respected by your family, friends, and society, or whether you play a meaningful role, even if it is small, based on the premise that you can meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
“If you become this kind of being, you will be happy, and if you are happy, you will be successful.” (〈The True Meaning of Success, Inner Happiness〉)

Since 2019, Cho Kuk has been reborn as a "wounded healer," and the people say they gave him a political opportunity despite knowing his flaws.
“I am not a perfect person.
It has limitations and flaws.
I honestly acknowledged this, laid out the tasks I needed to accomplish, and demonstrated my determination and courage to accomplish them.
“I think this is the real reason why he won the hearts of the people.” (The Wounded Healer) Now, from the lowest place, Cho Kuk writes with his bare body, once again engraving his calling.
In the lowly place of prison, he proves himself by putting his voice into words with the pen and paper allowed.

What is healing study?
A world where only those who struggle can find happiness

The last part 4 contains the story of 'the studying fatherland' as seen by Jeong Yeo-ul.
The first meeting in 2009, the second meeting in 2023, and the trajectory of his life and thoughts, contained in “Jeong Yeo-ul’s Rewriting of the Homeland in 2025,” unfold.


Jo Gook and Jeong Yeo-ul first met in 2009.
At the time, Cho Kuk was a legal scholar who pondered the reflective advancement of democracy, and Jeong Yeo-ul was a writer who wove her inner wounds into writing.
At that time, Cho Kuk mentioned the “collective sense of debt” and the “collapse of the Maginot Line of democracy” that had spread throughout Korean society since the death of President Roh Moo-hyun, and firmly stated, “We must learn what we need to learn and discard what we need to discard” (“We are each erecting a tombstone in our hearts”).
He noted that while the direct actions of citizens holding candlelight vigils are great, if they are not connected to institutional politics, they can become a futile war of attrition. He criticized the single-member district system and regionalism, which are structural limitations of Korean democracy, and specifically proposed a transition to a multi-member district system.
It sought a way to move beyond formal procedural democracy and toward ‘substantive democracy.’
16 years have passed since then.
Meanwhile, the country continues to fulfill its mission, still envisioning the "institutionalization of happiness," and confronting the essential tension between capitalism and democracy.
We are striving to achieve prosecution reform, political reform, and substantive democracy that goes beyond mere formalities.

The second meeting was in 2023, when planning for this book began in earnest.
At that time, even in the midst of political trials, Cho Kuk showed humility and wisdom in seeing the world broadly through sincere apologies and a consistent attitude toward study.
From a young age, he laid the foundation for his thinking through books and Chinese characters, and like Sima Qian and Jeong Yak-yong, he strengthened himself through writing even in difficult times.
Then and now, he fights against anti-intellectualism and dreams of restoring democracy and building an "imagined community" through solidarity with fellow citizens.

The last chapter of Part 4 features the 'Theory of Cho Kuk' written in 2025.
Jeong Yeo-ul condenses and unravels the study theory of the fatherland through books such as 『Reflective Progress』, 『Dike's Tears』, 『Gabul Advanced Countries』, and 『A Walk Through the Legal Classics of the Fatherland』.
I will copy and write down the sentence that Jeong Yeo-ul wrote at the end.
“The reason why ‘Study of the Fatherland’ is meaningful to us is because it reminds us of the meaning of ‘jurisprudence that heals the hearts of the suffering, and jurisprudence that restores solidarity and a sense of identity among awakened fellow citizens,’ rather than ‘jurisprudence that governs the elite through law.’
Studying the fatherland is not about becoming a person of power, but about sharing that power with fellow citizens, awakening them to the rights of sovereign citizens, and dreaming of a world where no one—not women, workers, children, the disabled, or minorities—is discriminated against or marginalized.
“It is a study that does not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, a study that willingly participates in the world’s sorrows and joys, a study that wipes away the tears of the world’s people, a study that smiles together with the world’s people and moves toward a better world.” (Jeong Yeo-ul, “Jeong Yeo-ul’s Rewriting of the Homeland in 2025”)

"The Study of the Fatherland" was fully realized in 2023, 14 years after the first meeting between the fatherland and Jeong Yeo-ul, and was completed in 2025 with the writings that the fatherland had written in prison.
As author Jo Jeong-rae said in his recommendation, “This book is enterprising and exploratory, groundbreaking and reflective, controversial and emotional.
How was such a seemingly conflicting intellectual harmony achieved?
This is the result of a sincere and earnest soul-to-soul conversation between Cho Kuk, a lawyer and politician, and Jeong Yeo-ul, a literary critic and writer.
And readers will encounter a resolute portrait of the new politician, Cho Kuk, looking toward the future.” (From author Jo Jeong-rae’s recommendation)

The people of the Republic of Korea have been asking the right questions to the dark recklessness and have wisely passed through the darkness with upright actions.
What pierced the darkness was the light each and every person held in their hands.
It was the look in those people's eyes.
The light of one person has made the light of another person beside him not feel lonely, and has led history in the right direction, even when it was blind and deaf.
The cover of the book is a 'paper airplane' made by folding handwritten letters from the motherland.
Like a light piercing through the darkness, like a welcome paper airplane that arrives one day, I hope that the message of study conveyed in this book will reach the readers.