Jeongeup Museong Seowon

Site details

Museong Seowon was formed by merging the shrine of Choi Chi-won, a scholar from the late Unified Silla period, and the shrine of Shin Jam, a Joseon scholar known for his poetry, calligraphy, and painting, called the three perfections. Originally named Taesan Seowon, it was renamed Museong Seowon in 1696 (22nd year of King Sukjong) after receiving its name from the king. It follows the principle of 'jeonhak humyo,' with the study area in the front and the shrine in the back, but unlike other buildings which are separated by a wall, all other buildings, except Myeongnyundang and the shrine, are located outside the wall. Unlike other Seowons located in the mountains, Museong Seowon is situated in the middle of a village, and it was the site of the first anti-Japanese militia movement in Honam in 1906. When Japan forcibly signed the Eulsa Treaty to deprive Korea of its diplomatic rights, Choi Ik-hyeon and Lim Byeong-chan raised a militia, with Museong Seowon as their base. The Byung-o Resistance Memorial Monument next to the Seowon commemorates the anti-Japanese movement of that time.