[1] Han Kyŏng-ni, his maternal grandfather, and Kim Hŏn-gi (1774–1842) were popular Confucian scholars in Gaeseong (Kaesŏng), where Hyegang spent his childhood and are reported to have been his mentors.

[2][8] Hyegang was a Confucian philosopher, and despite being isolated for rejecting neo-Confucian morality, his grasp on Western science and integrating it with the intellectual context of East Asia is considered noteworthy.

He spent his life establishing his own version of a perfect Confucian philosophy and studied Western science to support Qi's absolute principle.

[1][2][3] Hyegang's interest in astronomy and heavenly bodies led him to read and interpret Newtonian mechanics and present arguments for and against it.

[2][3] Hyegang's early and broad knowledge of Western science, compared to other Koreans of the time, has been highly appreciated by modern researchers.

[2][3] Hyegang is said to have been an avid reader and, according to sources, chose to remain in Seoul because it was the easiest place to increase his collection and knowledge from different parts of the world.

[1] Hyegang wrote more than a thousand chapters in various fields, including orthodox Confucianism, social reform, agriculture, astronomy, mathematics, and medicine.

[2][8] Sŏnggyun'gwan University Press, Seoul, also published a five-volume photographic reproduction in 2002 called Expanded Collection of Cheo Han-gi's Writings.