Korean painting is often believed to be an imitation of Chinese painting. Korean painters were heavily influenced by China and depicted figures in Chinese robes in Chinese landscapes. This is because in East Asia painters trained by copying paintings by past masters. They did this to experience the world of the masters and to learn their techniques. As a result Korean painters did not paint Korean landscapes but Chinese ones which they had never seen themselves. The most influential artist in the early Chosŏn period was the court painter An Kyŏn (AD 1418-53). He was inspired by Chinese landscape paintings by the Chinese master Guo Xi (around 1000-90).

This tradition changed in the late Chosŏn period with the development of 'true-view' landscape painting. In 'true-view' paintings real rather than imaginary landscapes are illustrated. The movement was led by the artist Chŏng Sŏn (1676-1759) who painted many of Korea’s famous scenic spots, such as the rocky peaks of the Diamond Mountains. He and other artists developed new techniques, compositions and colour combinations, which suited Korean, rather than Chinese landscapes and made it possible for them to truly capture the scenery.