Yucheon Seowon (Namwon)

About this place

A seowon is a private local educational institution of the Joseon Dynasty, established to hold memorial rites for eminent Confucian scholars and to educate local residents. Yucheonseowon, located in Yeongcheon-ri, Jusaeng-myeon, Namwon, was founded in 1830 (the 30th year of King Sunjo) by local Confucian scholars. Centered on Bang Sa-ryang, it enshrines five worthies revered by the local Confucian community — Bang Gwi-on, An Tak, Bang Eung-hyeon, and An Chang-guk — and is therefore also called Ohyeonsa (Shrine of the Five Worthies). In 1868 (the 5th year of King Gojong), it was demolished under Heungseon Daewongun's order to abolish seowon; today, on its former site, descendants have erected the 'Ohyeonseowon Memorial Stele' to honor their ancestors' virtue, and within the stele grounds only traces of Yucheonseowon's wall, lecture hall, and caretaker's house (shrine) remain. In 1984, its value was recognized and it was designated as a cultural heritage material of Jeollabuk-do. Nearby are Sagyejeongsa, Gucheonsa, the Yocheon Ecological Wetland Park, and the Daegok-ri rock carvings, which can be toured together.