The definitive edition of Korean history chosen by 500,000 readers
Bestseller in Korean history for 18 consecutive years
“Face the past and find the path to the future!”

The historical war over memory continues unabated between Korea, China, and Japan.
In Korean society, too, the struggle between the left and right over historical perspectives is in full swing.
While books with somewhat extreme claims become bestsellers, there are also people who make equally extreme claims without a second thought.
Such people turn a blind eye to our shameful past and say that our ancestors were great and our history is a proud history.
On the other hand, there are books that claim that our history is shameful and our people are inferior by collecting only a portion of the many sources.
It's ironic now that the authors of such books once called for an end to the "self-deprecating view of history."

This book is not a full-fledged research paper or a book that independently interprets history.
However, this is simply a book that has been written calmly, with facts as facts and opinions as opinions, and organized in a way that makes it more accessible to readers.
A book that serves as a stepping stone for those interested in history to read without burden and find the next level of history books.
Even those who are tired of studying history by memorizing will be able to get a feel for our history by looking at the big picture it presents.
That was the purpose of this book.

Of course, there are many books with similar intentions, but this book has received an extraordinary treatment among them.
It was reprinted more than 100 times and was designated as a recommended book for schools and universities at all levels across the country.
It is said that those preparing for the civil service exam also read it to get a big picture of Korean history before starting full-scale exam preparation.
Above all, more than 500,000 readers chose this book.
Reflecting the readers' intentions, the bookstores' requests, and the support and regrets of many people who have sent me their books, I have published a revised and expanded edition of this book, "Reading Korean History in One Night."
First, we corrected the changed content to reflect the achievements of the historical community.
In addition to the existing 'Korean History Chronology' that only included Korean history, we added world history events that occurred during the same period to create a 'Korean History-World History Comparative Chronology'.
Moving beyond a perspective that simply focuses on the explanation and interpretation of the Dangun myth in Samguk Yusa, we added content on the development and fall of Gojoseon, especially the Gojoseon-Han War, in which even the victorious general was executed.
For example, Emperor Wu of Han, who recklessly waged a war with the Huns for decades, struggled against the fierce resistance of Gojoseon.
That is why he executed his own generals who were deployed in the Great Gojoseon War and reduced them to commoners.
In addition, I added several interesting articles, including one on the status of women in the Joseon Dynasty, and updated the modern history section to include recent historical materials.
We replaced existing photos and added several new photos and audiovisual materials.
Finally, the existing design has been refined to improve readability.
This is to further fulfill the role of this book as a bridge between readers and history.

The fact that Dangun Wanggeom ruled for 1,500 years and then became a mountain god and lived in hiding when Gija was crowned king of China can be seen as Dangun Joseon coming under the rule of the Zhou Dynasty.
However, academics raise the possibility of Chinese manipulation regarding the existence of the Gija Chosun.
Strangely enough, Gija Joseon appears in Chinese historical records such as the 『Complete Works of the Book of Documents』 and 『Records of the Grand Historian』, but no trace of it can be found in our historical records.
- From “How should we view the Dangun myth?”

But there is a question that remains here.
The conquest was a success.
However, the left general, Sun Che, was condemned to death for the crime of division.
It was an extreme punishment in which the head was cut off and the body was thrown into the street.
General Woo Geo-jang was also almost executed for surrendering, but he barely managed to survive by offering money and was reduced to a commoner.
Soon, all high-ranking envoys and generals involved in the war to conquer Gojoseon were severely punished.
Only the princes and state ministers who surrendered in Gojoseon were treated as vassals.
This is the period before and after the war as recorded in Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian and Ban Gu's Book of Han.
It was a strange war of conquest.
---From "The Gojoseon-Han War, in which all the victorious generals were executed"

According to the record in the Goryeosa, when the crowds rushed into the palace, Gung Ye lamented, “The prince has already achieved victory, so my work is already over,” and then disguised himself and escaped the palace.
It was in 918.

But this is only the winner's record.
Even though Gung Ye's position had weakened as he came of age due to political mistakes and the weakening of his personal guard, it was impossible to overthrow the royal authority so easily with a single day's uprising.
Moreover, there are records of rebellions taking place in various places for several years after Wang Geon's uprising, using the restoration of Gung Ye as a pretext.
---From “Wang Geon’s coup was planned”

In northeastern China, the legend of the Hongla Woman has been passed down.
There is a legend that a Balhae woman named Hong Ra-nyeo became a general, fought against the Khitan, won, and returned to rescue her husband.
She was a Balhae woman who was not only strong at home, but also brave enough to engage in actual combat.

That's why it is said that in Balhae, when bowing, men kneel, but women do not kneel.
At this point, we cannot help but count Balhae as the country with the most powerful passport in our history.
---From "Balhae Without Prostitutes"

Because of these contradictions, suspicions have recently been raised that the "Hunyo 10 Articles" may be a later forgery.
The process by which the "Hunyo 10 Articles", which were burned during the Khitan invasion, reappeared is also fueling suspicion.
The original "Hunyo 10 Articles" was said to have been burned, but was discovered by chance at the house of Choi Hang from Gyeongju and presented to King Hyeonjong.
King Hyeonjong was a king whose maternal lineage was Silla, and whose support base was also made up of Silla-affiliated subjects.
---From "Ten Commandments of the Ministry of Education: Never hire people from Jeolla Province?"

However, at this time, Seo Hui (942-998, politician of the early Goryeo Dynasty), the hero of the first war, stepped forward.
He was clearly aware of it.
This means that the strategic goal of Liao is not to acquire territory, but to sever diplomatic relations between Goryeo and Song and to restore diplomatic relations between Goryeo and Liao.

Seohee tried to negotiate with Sosonnyeong to establish relations with Yao, but the Jurchen people were an obstacle, and he made two demands.
That is, they asked that the Jurchen be driven out and that the land along the Yalu River be handed over to Goryeo to open a route for communication.
Yo, who had no active intention to fight against Goryeo, readily accepted this.
---From "The First Round of the Khitan War: Seohee's Complete Victory in Diplomatic Battles"

There was some seeming validity to Park Yu's submission of this petition.
Due to the long war with the Yuan Dynasty, the number of men was far smaller than that of women, so many women grew old without marrying.
Moreover, at the time, it was an agricultural society, so it was natural that if the population was small, productivity would decrease and national power would also decrease accordingly.
Therefore, Park Yu's suggestion could have been a way to save women and strengthen national power.

But his suggestion was ignored.
Because there was strong opposition from women.
It was when Park Yu accompanied the king to the lantern festival.
When an old woman pointed at Park Yu and shouted, “You old rascal who suggested having a concubine!”, all the surrounding women pointed their fingers at Park Yu and jeered.
In the end, Park Yu's suggestion was ignored.
---From "Where did you dare to talk about the concubine system?"

And there were several restrictions on the content of the accusation.
Except in cases of treason or unlawful murder, if a low-ranking official or slave reported his superior, master, nobleman, or magistrate, he was actually punished.
In this way, the newspaper office was mainly operated by the yangban class, and eventually degenerated into a means of suggesting measures for political stability.

As a way for the people to resolve their grievances, the more effective methods were to submit a petition directly to the king during his visit, and to ring a gong to appeal for their grievances.
King Jeongjo, who valued politics toward the people, visited the royal tombs in Gyeonggi Province over 70 times and received and resolved 2,671 petitions and disputes.
---From "Is it really enough to just hit the newspaper box?"

Paradoxically, during the process of ascending to the throne, Yeonsangun secured greater legitimacy than any of his predecessors.
In accordance with the principle of primogeniture, Yeonsangun was born as the eldest son of his father, Seongjong, and was appointed crown prince in 1484 at the age of nine.
For the next 11 years, he studied the art of kingship from the best scholars of the time.
The daily routine of a Joseon crown prince began and ended with studying.
After such preparations, he ascended to the throne in 1494 at the young age of 19.
At that time, 19 years old was an age that could be considered as the late 20s of today.
He was literally a 'prepared monarch'.
At that time, the people and subjects also praised King Yeonsangun as a 'wise king' when he ascended to the throne and had high expectations for his virtuous rule.
---From "The Last Days of Yeonsangun, the Nero Emperor of Joseon"

The most dramatic scene was the treatment of the repatriated women who had been taken to Qing China during the Byeongja Horan.
The nobles wanted a divorce.
Jang Yu, the Prince of Uiseong, who was also Hyojong's father-in-law, rejected his daughter-in-law who had returned home and asked the country for a divorce.
At this time, Choi Myeong-gil, who risked his life as a peace activist and participated in negotiations with the Qing Dynasty, opposed this.
It was unfair to kick out a woman who had been taken to the Qing against her will and had no evidence of having been defiled.
But this meaning was not accepted.
Men remarried and abandoned their wives.
They were truly lethal men.
Yangban women could not even ask for divorce without going through their fathers.
---From "Divorce Stories of the Joseon Dynasty"

At that time, the target of the Independence Association's fight for independence was not Japan, but Russia.
Russia initially guaranteed the autonomy of the cabinet, but from 1897 onwards, the following year, it actively interfered in internal affairs and encroached upon vested interests.
He volunteered to be a military advisor to Joseon, dispatched 160 military instructors, and trained 6,000 soldiers, intending to place this unit under his command.
He also sent Alekseev as a financial advisor and established the Korea-Russia Bank (1898) to oversee the national finances, and leased Jeolyeongdo Island off the coast of Busan to use as a coal base for the Russian Navy.

The Independence Association expressed its opposition to Russia and organized a popular anti-Russian movement by holding a general assembly.
However, he remained silent about the encroachment of interests by the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Like the reformists, they may have tried to use these countries to check Russia, but they were too ignorant of the harsh realities of international relations.

---From "Lee Wan-yong was the first chairman of the Independence Association"