改革

Why does 改革 look like this?

改 (gǎi): Radical is '攵' (tap/action) + '己' (self). It originally meant to correct oneself or change an action. 革 (gé): Originally a pictograph of a raw animal hide being stretched and cured into leather. It implies shedding the old skin to become something new. Together, they mean 'to change the skin'—a complete transformation!