King Muryeong managed the affairs of the nation just before its collapse and reestablished order. He endured without easily falling apart. I believe that is the power of culture. If Goguryeo was a military powerhouse, Baekje was a cultural powerhouse. The Samguk Sagi states, "Gyeomibulru Hwailbulchi (儉而不陋 華而不侈)". This was the principle applied when designing the first capital, Hanseong, of Baekje. It’s a phrase I really love, meaning 'frugal yet not shabby, splendid yet not extravagant.' How wonderful is that? When I express luxury, I say this: true luxury is just like this.
From Baekje: A Cultural Powerhouse That Is Splendid Yet Not Extravagant
It’s truly amazing. Who would have thought that Silla would unify the three kingdoms during the Three Kingdoms period? Yet the smallest Silla achieved the dream of unification. Wang Geon was not the main character of the Later Three Kingdoms period either; he was a subordinate under Gungye. In a way, an unexpected figure unified the Later Three Kingdoms. Those who lead must always guard against arrogance, and those who follow must not give up and steadily pursue their own path. Isn’t the history of the Later Three Kingdoms teaching us this?
From Unified Silla: The Unification State of the Korean Peninsula That Blossomed a Brilliant Culture
Gwangjong did not show his presence for seven years after taking power. He just read books. It is said that he always kept the Jeonggwanjeongyo, a compilation of political dialogues between Tang Taizong and his officials, by his side. Since the king was just reading books without implementing any particular policies, his officials probably thought, 'Isn’t he too incompetent?' However, the Jeonggwanjeongyo that Gwangjong read was no ordinary book. It was a political guidebook that discussed the duties of a monarch and how to select talented individuals, in other words, a study of royal governance.
After seven years, Gwangjong finally revealed his first reform card: the Law of Investigation of Slaves. This law aimed to investigate and examine slaves to find those who had been wrongfully enslaved and liberate them. Who had the most slaves? It was the local aristocrats. If those who had become slaves illegally were restored to commoner status, it would reduce the private property of the aristocrats. Their military power, which they could mobilize at will, would also weaken. This was exactly what Gwangjong aimed for.
From The Founding of Goryeo: Opening the Medieval Era of Korean History
Jeong Dojeon was a person overflowing with the will to establish a Confucian state. Therefore, he included 'In, E, Ye, Ji'—the most important concepts in Confucianism—in the names of the four main gates. The eastern gate was named Heunginjimun, including 'In'; the western gate was named Donuimun, including 'E'; and the southern gate was named Sungnyemun, including 'Ye'. The northern gate was an exception, as wisdom is not something that is outwardly displayed, so instead of 'Ji', he used the character for 'clear', leading to the name Sukjeongmun.
So where did 'Sin', which is also emphasized in Confucianism, go? This was created after Jeong Dojeon. It is the place where the bell is struck at the turn of the year, Bosingak. Bosingak is located right in the middle of the four main gates.
From The Founding of Joseon: Dreaming of a Confucian State Based on Neo-Confucianism
The Gapsin Coup occurred during the opening ceremony of the first post office in Korea, the Ujeongchongguk. The radical reformists, including Kim Ok-kyun, set fire nearby to create chaos in the banquet hall and then attacked Min Yeong-ik, the nephew of Queen Min. They then went to Changdeokgung and deceived King Gojong and Queen Min into fleeing to Gyeongun Palace by claiming that the Qing were causing a disturbance. Those who captured the king established a government of the Enlightenment Party and announced a reform agenda.
One of the key contents of the reform agenda was the abolition of the class system. It is truly astonishing. The people at the very top of the class system relinquished their vested interests and proposed a new world. Thinking about how the youth of over a hundred years ago dreamed of a better future brings a lump to my throat. This is a very valuable scene in our modern history.
From The Opening of Joseon: The Demands of Great Powers and Internal Chaos in Joseon
The Chun Doo-hwan government came to power through a coup and suppressed the May 18 Democratic Movement, so its legitimacy was weak. Unlike the Yushin regime, it implemented conciliatory policies such as lifting curfews and allowing overseas travel, but every spring, its legitimacy was shaken. Every May, citizens protested, claiming they would carry on the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement. In this situation, a major incident occurred in January 1987: the death of Park Jong-chul due to police torture. The student who participated in the protest, Park Jong-chul, died during the police interrogation. However, the police made up a ridiculous story, claiming he died after being hit on the table, which is where the phrase "He was hit on the table and died" came from.
In response to the police's absurd lies, students and citizens rose up again. What they demanded was a direct presidential election. However, the Chun Doo-hwan government announced the April 13 Martial Law Measures on April 13, 1987. They claimed it was to protect the constitution. It meant they would continue to implement the indirect presidential election system they had created for seven years. It was like adding fuel to the fire.
From Political History of the 1980s: The Rise of the New Military and the Struggle for Democracy