Pak Chiwŏn

Pak Chiwŏn, styled Yŏnam, was a philosopher and novelist in the late Joseon dynasty. He has been regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of the so-called "Practical Learning (silhak)" movement. Pak Chiwŏn belonged to the "School of Profitable Usage and Benefiting the People" to promote the industrialization of his country and the development of trade by positively introducing western technologies to Joseon Korea. Pak Chiwŏn proposed that Joseon import advanced technologies from the Qing dynasty, and promote mercantilism.