This work illuminates Byeon Bak, a little known painter lying outside the mainstream, and portrays his long journey to Japan’s Tsushima Island as captain of a Joseon Tongsinsa ship. 

Jo Eom, the administrator of Dongnae, summons a young Byeon Bak, not yet twenty, and asks him to demonstrate his skills in writing and painting. Jo Eom recognizes the artistic value in the traces of Byeon Bak’s brush and has him join a Joseon Tongsinsa delegation on their trip to Japan. Since ByeonBak was a nameless painter, he embarks on the long journey as the captain of a ship for the Joseon Tongsinsa delegation and not as an artist.

Byeon Bak faithfully fulfills his role as the captain. He endures the occasional storm and towering waves and continues his journey toward Tsushima Island, cheering his crew and passengers, who are exhausted from the long voyage.

After a tumultuous journey, he arrives at Tsushima Island. The fleet and procession of the Joseon Tongsinsa were enthusiastically received by the Japanese people, and they left a big influence on Japanese people from all classes. In this atmosphere, Byeon Bak could not ignore the artistic spirit burning inside him. Unable to refuse the glittering eyes of the Japanese people asking for his painting, he left several artworks there. Among them are his most famous works, “Songhahodo (tiger under a pine tree)” and “Mukmaedo (plum blossoms in Indian ink)”.