Bak Gyusu

Bak Gyu-su (1807–1877) was a scholar-official of the late Joseon dynasty and a grandson of the Silhak thinker Bak Ji-won. He served in posts such as governor of Suwon under King Gojong, and as a pioneer of enlightenment thought he mentored young figures like Kim Ok-gyun and Bak Yeong-hyo, who later led the reformist Enlightenment Party. He stood as an intellectual bridge as Joseon opened its doors and moved toward the modern age.