The Last Guardian of the Royal Image In the twilight of the Joseon Dynasty, as the old world began to yield to the encroaching shadows of modernity, Seokji, also known as Chae Yongshin, held a position of profound responsibility. Born into a family of military officials within the ruling yangban gentry, he moved through a landscape of shifting loyalties and changing customs. He emerged as a painter of singular importance, often recogni…