Punggye Seowon

About this place

Maegye Seowon is a place dedicated to the memory and rites of figures renowned for their integrity, steadfastness, and scholarship: Hwang Hui, Oh Sang-deok, and Hwang Wi. Hwang Hui was a famous clean official (cheongbaengni) whose ancestors were from Namwon; he himself was exiled to Namwon over the issue of crown prince appointment and built the Gwangtongnu Pavilion during his exile. Hwang Hui's brother-in-law Oh Sang-deok was a loyal subject at the end of the Goryeo dynasty who opposed Yi Seonggye's enthronement and retreated to Dumundong. Hwang Wi was a descendant of Hwang Jin, who died a martyr during the Imjin War; he passed the state examination and was known for his passion for poetry and education. Maegye Seowon is a representative cultural heritage of Namwon that honors the lives and spirit of these historical figures.