Incheon National University (President Lee In-Jae) announced the publication of Professor Ahn Sung-jae’s new book, 『정치의 모양』 (어문학사, 2025), from the Graduate School of Education.

Known for his in-depth readings of various Eastern philosophy-based political theories—such as in his previous works 『도덕, 성인, 군자』 and 『군자 프로젝트』—Professor Ahn’s latest book reexamines the fundamental question: What is just politics in times of chaos?

The book begins by exploring the etymology of the Korean characters for politics—jeong (政) and chi (治)—and restores their original meanings: not merely tools of power, but acts of shaping justice with a hammer (政) and calming disorder like a flood (治). In other words, politics is not just a mechanism for governance but a means of remedying man-made disasters (人災) and restoring order in the face of natural calamities (天災)—ultimately serving to protect and save the people.

Building on this foundation, Professor Ahn critically reflects on how modern political concepts have become increasingly complex and ambiguous. He draws from the insights of ancient sages to revive the essence of true leadership, offering a step-by-step explanation of the virtues and qualifications a political leader should possess. The book also presents numerous real-life examples to connect philosophical ideals with practical political behavior.

Through this, readers naturally grasp the difference between positive leadership to emulate and negative leadership to avoid. Notably, 『정치의 모양』 makes classical texts such as the Tao Te Ching, Analects, and Book of Rites more accessible through conversational explanations and rich visual materials, making it an engaging and approachable guide to political philosophy and the many “shapes” of politics.