Choe Cheok jeon (Korean: 최척전; Hanja: 崔陟傳; MR: Ch'oech'ŏkchŏn; lit.
It is set in the late 16th and early 17th century in Joseon, Japan, China, and Vietnam, and depicts a family's diaspora and reunion during the turmoil of wars that swept East Asia.
Jo was close friends with other prominent writers of the time, including Heo Gyun (許筠, 1569–1618) and Gwon Pil (權韠, 1569–1612).
Choe Cheok joins the army and goes to war, and Ok-yeong's parents arrange her marriage with a rich man named Yang-saeng.
Meanwhile, Choe Cheok's father and Ok-yeong's mother survived the war and return home to take care of their grandson Mong-seok.
Don-u, who kidnapped Ok-yeong but takes good care of her, disguises her as a man and they become merchants sailing around foreign countries on a trade ship, while Choe Cheok frequently visits Vietnam on a trade ship with his friend Song-u (宋佑).
The next day, Choe Cheok reunites with Ok-yeong, and they return home and have their second son Mong-seon, who later marries Hong-do (紅桃), daughter of Jin Wi-gyeong (陳偉慶), who is a Chinese soldier that was dispatched to Joseon during the Japanese invasions of Korea.
Likewise, Gimyeongcheoljeon (김영철전, "The Tale of Kim Yeong-cheol") written by Hong Se-tae (洪世泰, 1653–1725) is often mentioned along with Choe Cheok jeon because it also deals with the issue of war and separated families.
[citation needed] Its front cover says 奇遇錄, or "record of a bizarre meeting," and the first inner page says 崔陟傳, or "the tale of Choe Cheok".