As a pioneer of scholarly publishing in Korea, Ilchokak (일조각, 一潮閣) is dedicated to producing books that will be read and treasured infinitely. Our single-minded commitment is to provide outstanding books for intellectual stimulation and academic advancement. Our name, meaning “House of One Tide,” represents this determination. And our every step in turning manuscripts into carefully crafted, refreshing sources is done with joy and pride.
Ilchokak was founded in 1953 by Mr. Han Man-nyun (1925–2004), who inherited his spirit of benevolence to the country and society from his father, Mr. Han Ki-ak (1898–1941), a revered journalist and independence fighter. Mr. Han Ki-ak served in the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai, and after returning to Seoul, as editor-in-chief of three newspapers — Dong-a Ilbo, Sidae Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo. Mr. Han Man-nyun attended Choong Ang High School, Bosung College and Seoul National University. In 1945, shortly after Korea’s liberation from Japanese occupation, he entered the publishing industry and founded a company named Tamgudang (House of Study) with his cousin, Hong Seok-wu. Eight years later, Mr. Han was ready to launch his own publishing house.
Naming the fledging company, Ilchokak was suggested by Dr. Yu Jin-oh, an eminent scholar of law who led the drafting of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea and served as president of Korea University. From its beginning, the company has steadfastly focused on scholarly publications in an array of fields, including history, language and literature, politics, law, economics, sociology, anthropology, folklore, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and agriculture. In particular, our extensive publishing portfolio in Korean Studies includes such monumental titles as Festschrift for the Sixtieth Birth Anniversary of Dugye Dr. Yi Byeong-do (1956), Festschrift for the Eightieth Birth Anniversary of Ilseok Yi Hee-seung (1957), and A New History of Korea (Lee Ki-baek; 1967).
Our unwavering dedication to a single cause is embodied in A Job for a Life (一業一生), a collection of essays by Mr. Han Man-nyun, published on his sixtieth birthday. Since his death, Ilchokak has been led by his daughter-in-law, Kim Si-yeon, who shares the founder’s love of good books and pride in the publishing business. At its new headquarters since 2004, Ilchokak continues to cope with rapid changes in the publishing industry and demands of the times by producing books that will stand the test of time, rather than books that satisfy transient interest.