The complete edition of 『Naked Korean History』, which has captivated 100,000 readers, has been published!
The final story: A moving glimpse into the modern and contemporary history of South Korea.
“The darkest era in the history of the Republic of Korea,
“A bold and noble journey that illuminates the light of hope!”

The representative Korean history series, "Naked Korean History," which has solidified its position as a bestseller for 98 consecutive weeks, concludes its "period" series with a story of modern and contemporary history.
This time, we carefully selected and took a three-dimensional look at the events and people representing the 100 years of moving modern history from among the stories introduced in tvN STORY's signature educational entertainment show, "Naked Korean History."

Modern and contemporary history is recent history that intersects with our lives today, and without knowledge of modern and contemporary history, it is difficult to properly understand what is happening in our country today.
As the division between South and North Korea continues after liberation and attempts to distort history continue both within and outside the country, learning about Korea's past has become a necessity, not an option, to find the right path forward for Korea.


The modern and contemporary history of the Republic of Korea has been a series of upheavals, from Japanese invasion and occupation, independence movements at home and abroad, liberation, and division.
"Naked Korean History: Modern and Contemporary History" focuses on those who, even amidst these turbulent times, risked everything to pursue their dreams.
From Yu Gwan-sun, who led the independence movement even in prison, to Na Hye-seok, a new woman who defied the limitations of her time, to Yun Dong-ju, who continued to write poetry in Korean despite feeling ashamed of not being able to actively oppose Japanese colonial rule, we encounter the hardships and glories our country has endured over the past 100 years through the stories of those who shouldered their own destinies.
Through this book, readers will be moved by the stories behind familiar figures and events, while also understanding the context and lessons of modern and contemporary history.
In it, you will find a clue to solving the current problem and establish yourself as the subject of life and history.
Let us now embark on a journey into the history of hope that burned brightly, never extinguished, even in dark times.

[Introduction to large-print books]

Leaders One's large-print books are books with 'font size' and 'line spacing' enlarged by '120% to 150%' compared to regular paperbacks to provide a comfortable reading environment for all those who have difficulty reading due to small print.
We want to bring back the joy of reading to those who have poor eyesight or find small print frustrating.

So, Japan accepted Joseon's strong opposition and erased "His Majesty the Emperor of Japan" from the preamble of the treaty, changing it to "Great Japan" and "His Majesty the King of Joseon" to "Great Joseon."
Since Japan respected Joseon's wishes to this extent, Joseon thought, "Japan is a partner with whom we can sufficiently negotiate," and thought that they would mutually agree to sign a treaty for trade.
Therefore, it is more accurate to view the Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity and Commerce as a treaty that was “completely fooled by Japan’s trickery” rather than a “treaty that was forced upon us by Japan.”
Unfortunately, at the time, Joseon did not believe that the Japan-Korea Treaty of Amity and Commerce was an unfair treaty.
King Gojong of Joseon even praised this event as a treaty that "overcame a great national crisis and preserved the nation's prestige."
After the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and Korea, Japan's influence in Korea gradually increased, like clothes getting wet in a drizzle, without even the Korean government noticing.
--- p.21~22, from “Chapter 1: Naked Japanese Invasion _ Japan’s elaborate plan to overthrow the 500-year Joseon Dynasty”

Then one day, a strange tension began to hang over Cell No. 8, making even the air chilly.
And soon after, Yu Gwan-sun and the prisoners exchanged solemn glances, raised their arms high, and began shouting at the top of their lungs.

“Long live Korean independence! Long live Korean independence!”
Why did they shout so loudly in unison? It was March 1, 1920! It was the exact first anniversary of the March 1st Movement.
Yu Gwan-sun and the prisoners in Cell No. 8 boldly and courageously held a demonstration to commemorate the first anniversary of the March 1st Movement inside the prison.
Yu Gwan-sun must have wanted to say, "Our independence movement is not over yet, and it is only natural to fight for independence to reclaim our country."
--- p.82~83, from “Chapter 2: The Naked March 1st Movement - How did seventeen-year-old Yu Gwan-sun paint the streets with the Taegeukgi?”

“I stand before the court on behalf of the Korean people to condemn Japan’s actions of plundering Korea.
So, let me tell you the meaning with my own mouth.”
The third requirement was that he defend himself in Korean, not Japanese.
Even though he was a criminal, he confidently asked for an interpreter to be prepared.
The fourth condition, which requires that the judge's seat be at eye level, is also significant.
Usually, the judge sits on a high platform, and the defendant sits below.
Park Yeol couldn't stand to see this.
He said that he was not a criminal and that he was standing in court representing Joseon, so he wanted to judge right and wrong on an equal footing with the judge representing Japan.
It was like saying that Japan had no right to look down on me.
--- p.119, from “Chapter 3 Naked Anarchist _ Why did Japan fear the rogue Korean Park Yeol?”

Why did Princess Deokhye's return to Korea become such a hot topic? Because she returned to her homeland after a whopping 37 years.
Unfortunately, Princess Deokhye was forcibly separated from her family at the age of fourteen and had to go to Japan.
I was taken away as a hostage by the Japanese imperialists' cunning scheme and lived a life like a puppet.
The place where she was discovered after so many years shocked many people.
Because it was a mental hospital in Tokyo, Japan.
Why was Princess Deokhye, the daughter of Emperor Gojong and the last princess of our country, found in a shabby state in a mental hospital?
--- p.136, from “Chapter 4 The Last Naked Princess - The Reason Why Princess Deokhye, the Youngest Daughter of Emperor Gojong, Was Found in a Mental Hospital”

After her divorce, Na Hye-seok, now in a miserable state, once again published a groundbreaking piece that turned the world upside down.

“The Joseon men’s evaluation is strange.
“He has no sense of chastity, yet he demands chastity from his wife and other women, and he also tries to take away the chastity of others.”
Divorce Confession

"It's strange that Joseon men, who lack a sense of chastity themselves, demand chastity only from their wives and other women." Doesn't this seem like a statement aimed at someone? It is.
It was Kim Woo-young.
It was a direct criticism of her ex-husband's shamelessness in blaming Na Hye-seok even though he had committed the same affair.
Furthermore, it strongly criticized Joseon society, which forced chastity only on women.
--- p.199~200, from “Chapter 5: The Birth of the Naked New Woman _ How did the genius artist Na Hye-seok confront the limitations of the times”

In fact, the conversation between Yun Dong-ju and Song Mong-gyu was an issue that would have been passed over so simply that even school disciplinary action would have been excessive in the past.
However, the 'New Public Security Preservation Law' revised by the Japanese in 1941 caught the two people by the ankles.
At that time, the Japanese government revised the Public Security Preservation Act, which originally had 7 articles, to a whopping 65 articles.
The two men were charged with the crime of "writing poetry in Korean, not Japanese," and "striving to maintain and improve Korean culture," according to the new Public Security Preservation Act.
--- p.238~239, from “Chapter 6: The Naked Resistance Poet - How Did Yun Dong-ju’s Poetry Resonate Even with the Hearts of the Japanese?”

On August 25, two months before his return to Korea, the Dong-A Ilbo published a photo of Son Ki-chung with the article, “Our honorable Son holds a laurel wreath on his head and a pot of laurel in both hands.”
But the Japanese took issue with this.
Originally, Son Ki-jeong's uniform had the Japanese flag on it.
However, the Dong-A Ilbo, which did not want to publish this, erased the Japanese flag and reported it.
This incident is called the 'Rising Sun Flag Deletion Incident'.
The enraged Japanese Government-General of Korea arrested those involved in erasing the Japanese flag and banned the publication of the Dong-A Ilbo for 10 months.

--- p.268, from “Chapter 7: The Naked Japanese Flag Deletion Incident _ Why did Son Ki-jeong wear the Taegeuk mark only when he was 76 years old?”