A landmark series tracing the flow of Korean thought through individual thinkers rather than eras or schools has been completed. "The Changbi Series of Korean Thought" presents the ideas and philosophies of 59 Korean thinkers across 30 volumes, from Jeong Do-jeon at the founding of the Joseon Dynasty through Neo-Confucian scholars, Donghak and Gaebyeok (a religious-philosophical 'Great Transformation' movement) thinkers, and independence activists, to former President Kim Dae-jung. Planning began in 2020, with the first 10 titles released in 2024 and a second set of 10 in February this year. The final 10 volumes have now been published, meeting the goal of completing all 30 volumes this year, the 60th anniversary of the quarterly journal Changjak-gwa-Bipyeong (Creation and Criticism).
Paik Nak-chung, chair of the publication committee and professor emeritus at Seoul National University, spoke at a press conference marking the series' completion, held on Sept. 16 at Changbi's Seogyo building in Mapo District, Seoul. "We planned this series out of a belief that beyond Western influence, the flourishing of Korean culture rests on a distinct intellectual tradition formed within Korean history, and that this tradition serves as a source of vitality for various cultures today," Paik said. He also stressed: "Just as the world shares K-pop created by Korean singers and agencies, K-thought likewise has value and strength worth circulating and sharing globally, not merely being transmitted from Korea."
From the planning stage, the series aimed to be an accessible work of general scholarship that ordinary readers could pick up easily. Figures were selected primarily for their relevance to challenges facing contemporary society. The set covers thinkers representative of Korean thought, including Yi Hwang, Yi I, Park Ji-won, Jeong Yak-yong, Choe Je-u, Ahn Chang-ho, Kim Ku and Han Yong-un. It also boldly brings in monarchs (King Sejong and King Jeongjo), literary figures (Kim Soo-young and Shin Dong-yeop) and women — groups rarely addressed in existing studies of Korean thought. Volume 13, devoted to the Joseon-era women Confucian scholars Im Yunjidang, Yi Sajudang and Kang Jeongildang, is one such example. Lee Sook-in, senior researcher at the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University, who edited the volume, said: "In an era when it was difficult for women to be recognized as subjects of thought, these women drew on Neo-Confucian reasoning to explore humanity, nature and society, leaving behind singular achievements."
Volume 30, which caps the series, examines Kim Dae-jung, a towering figure in 20th-century Korean politics. Lee Nam-ju, a professor at Sungkonghoe University who edited the volume, said: "Kim Dae-jung always practiced politics grounded in the tasks of his time, and worked hard to develop arguments that could persuade others." He added: "He was also a figure who, beyond adopting Western-style democracy, highly valued democratic resources within Korean history, such as the Donghak idea that humans are one with heaven." Paik also noted: "In the East Asian tradition, only those holding power could become thinkers who created and practiced codes of conduct." He continued: "Kim Dae-jung developed his thought while observing and acting from a position of authority — a rare figure in modern times."
Yeom Jong-seon, chief executive of Changbi, said: "Each installment cost 200 million to 300 million won ($144,000 to $216,000), but this was not a project started to make money." He added: "We pursued it in the spirit of finding ways to contribute to our society and reading community as Changbi marks its 60th anniversary." He also said: "I hope it becomes a foundation for us to first understand the core and essence of Korean thought that we have not known, and further, to export it abroad."
Following the completion of the series, Changbi will hold a reader book-review contest and a lecture series organized by figure and theme starting at the end of this month. On Oct. 16, the publisher plans to host a discussion on the possibilities of Korean thought in an age of transition as part of an academic event marking its 60th anniversary.
