Andong Mukgyeseowon and Bobaekdang Head House

About this place

Mukgyeseowon is a Confucian academy that enshrines Kim Gye-haeng (courtesy name Bobaekdang) and Ok Go (courtesy name Eunggye), both civil officials of the early Joseon period; it was founded in the 13th year of King Sukjong of Joseon (1687). Kim Gye-haeng passed the higher civil service examination in the 11th year of King Seongjong (1480) and served in key posts of the Three Offices—the Office of the Inspector-General (Saheonbu), the Office of the Censor-General (Saganwon), and the Office of Special Advisers (Hongmungwan). While serving as chief censor (Daesagan), he strove to check the tyranny of King Yeonsangun, but when this failed he returned to Andong in the 4th year of King Yeonsangun (1498) and devoted himself to educating later scholars; he is revered as a model of incorruptible officialdom. Ok Go studied under Gil Jae (pen name Yaeun) at the end of the Goryeo period. After passing the civil service examination at the age of 18 in the 1st year of King Jeongjong (1399), he held various offices and governed with benevolence when appointed to the Andong region. Mukgyeseowon was demolished under the 1871 (8th year of King Gojong) order abolishing seowon, but in 1909 permission was granted to rebuild it. In 1915 the lecture hall was rebuilt, continuing its function of study and scholarship, and in 1998 it was restored to its present form; memorial rites are held every year on the 5th day of the 8th lunar month. The academy consists of the shrine Cheongdeoksa, the lecture hall Ipgyodang, the eastern dormitory Geukgijae, the pavilion Eupcheongru, the entrance gate Jindeokmun, and the jusa that manages the academy; to the right of the academy stands the memorial stele (sindobi) of Bobaekdang Kim Gye-haeng. About 300 m to the northwest lies the Bobaekdang Head House, the head house of the Joseon civil official Kim Gye-haeng (Bobaekdang). Kim Gye-haeng enjoyed the scenery of this place and often visited it. In the 6th year of King Seongjong (1475) he settled his eldest son here, and in 1501, when he built Manhyujeong and lived in seclusion, he named the village Mukgye. The head house was originally in Sangni village, Pungsan-eup, but after later generations saw it all burn down it was moved to nearby Goran-ri, before settling at its present location in the late 1800s. The head house consists of the central 口-shaped main quarters (jeongchim), the shrine, the men's quarters called Bobaekdang, and the gatehouse. Part of the main quarters burned during the Korean War, but it was restored to its present building in 1958.