Jeong Yak-yong: How wonderful it would be

*How Wonderful It Would Be* is a book that introduces 20 verses of Dasan Jeong Yak-yong’s poem *Bulyeok Kwaejaehaeng* (How Wonderful It Would Be) along with illustrations. *Bulyeok Kwaejaehaeng* is a work written by Jeong Yak-yong in 1796 while serving as a royal secretary at the Gyujanggak. In it, he imagines the moment of transition from a stifling, gloomy, and static situation to one filled with happiness, adding the phrase *Bulyeok Kwaejae* (How Wonderful It Would Be) as a refrain at the end. Various situations appear in the poems. He sings of moments that bring a sense of relief just by thinking about them, such as dramatically pulling back an eaves that block the view, a tethered hawk soaring high into the cool breeze, or belting out a loud, husky song on a sorrowful night. At the time, Jeong Yak-yong was facing severe slander and false accusations from the Noron faction. Although King Jeongjo favored him greatly, the deeper the royal affection grew, the more severe the slander and false accusations against him became, constantly tormenting him with the resulting frustration and anxiety. It appears that Jeong Yak-yong composed *Bulyeok Gwaejaehaeng* (A Journey of Happiness) to imagine happy moments and escape this reality, even if only for a brief moment. Just as Jeong Yak-yong did and as depicted in this book, it would be a good approach for us to engage in pleasant daydreaming when facing difficulties, big or small, in life. Even if it is merely daydreaming, finding happiness, even for a brief moment, will undoubtedly be a great source of strength in enduring the hardships of reality.

Korean title: 그 얼마나 좋을까

Korean author: 정약용

Korean publisher: 한국고전번역원

ISBN-13: 9788928404919