The representative Korean history series, "Naked Korean History," which has captivated 100,000 readers.
The first story of the new beginning, 'Sidaepyeon', Joseon!

“If we expose the decisive event that changed the fate of Joseon,
“The flow of 500 years of history is captured!”

The representative Korean history series of the Republic of Korea, 『Naked Korean History』, announces the start of its ‘period’ with the story of Joseon.
tvN STORY's "Naked Korean History," which has established itself as a long-running history education program with the love of viewers, won the Cultural Entertainment Award at the 2024 Korea First Brand Awards, solidifying its position as the best Korean history program in the country.
The "Naked Korean History" series, which selects must-know stories from those introduced on TV, has also been selected by 100,000 readers and has received praise for its in-depth knowledge, clear commentary, and immersive storytelling.
The newly published 『Naked Korean History: Joseon』 maintains the strengths of its predecessors while presenting a new, broader perspective that covers the entire Joseon Dynasty.

Although Joseon history is the closest in time and has abundant records, it is a familiar history, but it is not easy to understand the chronological relationship and grasp the flow.
Because 500 years is such a long time, it feels like there is so much to know.
This book summarizes the context of Joseon history from the founding of Joseon in 1392 to the Gyeongsul National Shame of 1910 through eight representative stories of Joseon.
From Hwang Hui, the renowned prime minister who laid the foundation for the nation by serving four kings in the early Joseon Dynasty, to Heungseon Daewongun, who did not hesitate to become a servant to make his son king, 500 years of Joseon history unfold before your eyes as you follow the decisive scenes that changed the fate of Joseon.
Even those who thought they knew Joseon well, or who thought Joseon history was complex and difficult, will gain a deeper understanding of the rise and fall of the Joseon era after encountering Joseon's fascinating backstory.

Why is Joseon so familiar and fascinating to us? Because it's the closest and most comprehensive historical record.
However, on the other hand, because the process of its collapse is also well known, there is also a perception that Joseon was a poor country.
Is that really true? If Joseon had fought as often as we think, inflicting suffering on its people, would it have lasted for 500 years? Even among Chinese dynasties, none lasted longer than Joseon.
This also means that Joseon had its own system.
It was because the country had a strong system in place that it was able to endure for 500 years.
--- p.6~7, from “Recommended article _ Time to meet the decisive scene of 500 years of Joseon history”

When Hwang Hui turned 76, he submitted his resignation three times.
He requested his resignation once, saying that the boil wouldn't stop bleeding and that he was dizzy, and again, saying that he was so forgetful that he couldn't even remember what he said.
And in the winter of 1438 he submitted his third resignation.
What reason did you hear this time?
When thunder and lightning struck heavily in the winter, he asked to be dismissed, saying that the bad weather was due to his lack of virtue despite being in a high position.
Sejong replied, “The bad weather is due to the fault of the person.
So, he refused the request to resign, saying, “Don’t forgive me, but tell me to work harder.”
--- p.41~42, from “Chapter 1: The Naked Prime Minister _ Hwang Hui, the longest-serving prime minister who captured the hearts of Joseon kings”

The whole story of this brutal incident was as follows.
First of all, since there were many gates in the palace, when the court officials entered the first gate, they did not allow the servants to enter and had the court officials pass through the gate alone.
And when they entered the second gate, they confirmed their identities and killed those who sided with Kim Jong-seo and Prince Anpyeong.
Here too, Han Myeong-hoe's unique strategy is hidden.
We devised and implemented a method to remove the ministers quickly and secretly with a minimum number of people.
Han Myeong-hoe's persistent plan did not end here.
Those who were on the 'kill' list but could not come to the palace due to circumstances were killed by sending soldiers to their location.
Not only at home, but also at the construction site, the ministers who were working there were killed by sending soldiers directly to the site.
The list of people to be killed was not just a list of names of people to be eliminated, but a kind of killing scenario that was meticulously and perfectly planned, including the method of their elimination.
--- p.65~66, from “Chapter 2: The Naked Gye-Yu Rebellion - How Kingmaker Han Myeong-hoe Changed the King of Joseon”

Here's a fun fact:
The practice of the Queen Dowager lowering her foot when administering state affairs was first implemented during the reign of Queen Munjeong.
Queen Jeonghui, the grandmother of King Seongjong and wife of King Sejo, who had been regent before Queen Munjeong, did not appear in person at the side hall.
He received reports and made decisions on important matters from his own residence.
Queen Munjeong carried out a regency that was on a whole different level than before.
It was the first time in Joseon that the king came out to the Pyeonjeon to personally handle state affairs and run the government.
He even attended the 'Gyeongyeon', where the king and his subjects studied and discussed state affairs.
It is said that Queen Munjeong strongly expressed her opinions in the meeting with the ministers.
He stepped up and led the discussion and strongly suppressed criticism.
Queen Munjeong, who had been through many ups and downs during the reign of King Jungjong, a time of constant incidents and accidents, had extensive political experience and held the highest position in the royal family.
As mentioned earlier, she was a rare woman with Confucian qualities and a strong innate personality, so it was not easy for her subjects to express opposing opinions.
p.105, from “Chapter 3: The Naked Woman of the World - How Queen Munjeong Gained Absolute Power”

About a month after Gwanghaegun became crown prince, something shocking happened.
King Seonjo told his son, King Gwanghaegun, that the country was in a critical situation due to the Imjin War and that they should divide the government and rule it.
This is called a division by using the words ‘divide’ and ‘coordination group’.
The Joseon court was divided in two. What could have been King Seonjo's intention? He even summoned his officials and spoke to them.
“It is okay to die in the land of the emperor, but I cannot die at the hands of the Japanese.”
He said that he could not die at the hands of the Japanese pirates, so he would leave Joseon and go into exile in the Ming Dynasty, which he called the land of the emperor.
So, what Seonjo was talking about was not dividing the Joseon government in two, but rather he was saying that he would go to the safer Ming Dynasty to take refuge, and that his son, Gwanghaegun, would remain in Joseon and take responsibility for the country that was engulfed in war.
--- p.174~175, from “Chapter 5: The Naked Monarch of Turbulent Times - Why was King Gwanghaegun, the hero of the Imjin War, driven out?”

In addition, Jeong Yak-yong also created other tools, the 'Yeong Hyeong-geo' and the 'Nokro'.
A wheelbarrow was a cart that could easily transport stones by using the principle of a lever.
It is believed that the potter's wheel was used to lift small stones and timber high, a tool similar to a crane today.
All of these machines were imbued with the spirit of the Silhak scholars who wanted to alleviate the people's hardships even a little.
Suwon Hwaseong, a Joseon-era new city where Jeong Yak-yong's talents were fully demonstrated! What did it look like? Looking at the "Hwaseong Jeondo," we can see a large wall surrounding the city, with the king's temporary palace located in the upper center.
Even now, it is a very large and well-planned city.

--- p.260~261, from “Chapter 7: The Naked Silhak Scholar - How Jeong Yak-yong Made Jeongjo’s Ideals a Reality”