Sŏ, Yu-gu, 1764-1845

Seo Yu-gu (Korean: 서유구; Hanja: 徐有榘; 1764–1845) was a Korean Neo-Confucian scholar, agricultural administrator and encyclopedist in the Korean Joseon Dynasty. His pen name was Pungseok (풍석, 楓石, meaning Maple Stone), and his posthumous name Mun-gan (문간; 文簡). He came from the Daegu Seo clan (대구 서씨; 大丘徐氏). He was born at Jangdan, Paju, Gyeonggi-do in 1764. At that time, the practical science called Silhak(실학; 實學) was prevalent among the Joseon intellectuals, but unfortunately, it was rarely adopted by the Royal Court. He authored the huge 113 volume encyclopaedia, Imwon Gyeongjeji (임원경제지; 林園經濟志) for more than 30 years from 1806. Though the series of Encyclopedia Koreana on Rural Living were not published in his lifetime, Seo Yu-gu wished to share with fellow gentlemen how to live a wonderful living in the country.