Binggye Seowon

About this place

Binggye Seowon was founded in 1566 (the 11th year of King Myeongjong of Joseon) by Hoedang Sin Won-rok and venerated Mojae Kim An-guk. At its founding it was located at Jangcheon in Uiseong-eup (the upper reaches of present-day Namdaecheon) and in 1576 (the 9th year of King Seonjo) received the royal charter as Jangcheon Seowon. After it was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasions of 1592, the Confucian scholars decided in 1600 (the 33rd year of King Seonjo), seven years later, to move it to its present location; the following year the shrine was completed and the academy's name was changed to 'Binggye.' At this time Yi Eon-jeok was enshrined together with Kim An-guk, and in 1689 (the 15th year of King Sukjong), the local scholars petitioned the throne, so that Yu Seong-ryong, Kim Seong-il, and Jang Hyeon-gwang—figures deeply connected with Uiseong—came to be additionally enshrined. After being demolished during the reign of King Gojong, only the empty site remained, until it was restored in 2006 as part of a Confucian cultural-zone tourism development project.