A Place Where Thought Took Shape Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, South Korea and the Exile of Jeong Yak-yong
Hello, this is Jiro.
Today, I’d like to introduce the story of Gangjin, a county in Jeollanam-do, South Korea, once known as a place of exile during the Joseon Dynasty.
One of Korea’s most influential scholars, Jeong Yak-yong—better known by his pen name Dasan—was sent into exile here.
Yet rather than fading into silence, his years in Gangjin became a period of profound intellectual growth.
Let’s take a closer look.
Why Was Gangjin a Place of Exile?
Gangjin lies far from Hanyang (present-day Seoul) and is surrounded by both mountains and the sea.
Because of its geography, it became one of the representative exile destinations during the Joseon period.
Amid the political upheavals of the late Joseon Dynasty, those who lost power or fell out of political favor were often sent here—removed from the center of authority and public life.
A Time of Isolation
Exile meant separation.
It meant being cut off from one’s family and excluded from political life altogether.
Jeong Yak-yong was no exception.
In 1801, during the Sinyu Persecution, he was exiled to Gangjin, where he remained for 18 years—a long period marked by solitude and isolation.
Thinking in Exile
Yet Dasan did not allow his time in Gangjin to pass in silence.
Stripped of official position and political voice, he instead filled those years with reflection and writing.
What he lost in authority, he replaced with thought—deep, methodical, and quietly persistent.
The Birth of Mokminsimseo
While living in Gangjin, Dasan closely observed nature and carefully recorded the lives of ordinary people.
These observations became the foundation upon which his ideas matured.
It was here that he wrote many of his most important reformist works, including
Mokminsimseo (Admonitions on Governing the People) and
Gyeongse Yupy o, texts that would later shape Korean political and ethical thought.
Where Thought Was Completed
Dasan’s ideas did not remain confined to the late Joseon period.
They continue to be read and discussed even today.
His isolation in Gangjin was not time lost or erased.
It was time spent thinking deeply, away from power, noise, and urgency—time that allowed his philosophy to fully take shape.
Gangjin Today
Today, Gangjin still preserves places connected to Dasan’s life in exile, including Dasan Chodang, where he lived and wrote, and Baengnyeonsa Temple.
Visitors to Gangjin often walk the same paths Dasan once walked, moving slowly through the landscape, allowing space for reflection.
If You Need Time to Think
If the pace of everyday life ever feels overwhelming,
if you find yourself needing time to整理 your thoughts,
perhaps Gangjin is a place worth visiting—
a place to walk slowly, to think deeply, and to reconnect with quiet reflection.
Photo Credit: Photos courtesy of Gangjin County Office Official Website (Public Nuri Data)
Today, we explored Gangjin County in Jeollanam-do, connected to the story of Jeong Yak-yong, who wrote his reformist works during exile.
How did you find it?
If you ever feel like slowing down, reflecting, and reconnecting with nature,
Gangjin might be the perfect place to visit. 🌿
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