In 1773, he gave up on getting an official position and left Seoul to live in seclusion, hiding in a rural village Inje in Gangwon.
[1] In 1788, at the age of 45, Paek Dong-soo was appointed to a government position as the head of the Royal Guards by King Jeongjo, who had just ascended to the throne.
In 1789, King Jeongjo ordered Paek Dong-soo and his two friends, Yi Deok-mu and Park Jae-ga, to write a book on martial arts.
That book is considered a classic work that combines the best martial arts techniques from across East Asia, featuring detailed illustrations and explanations.
[2] His life became the basis for the Korean comic book "Honorable Baek Dong-soo" written by Lee Jae-hoon which was turned into a television series.