Naju City Begins Restoration and Maintenance of Local Cultural Heritage 'Woljeong Seowon'

Naju City in Jeollanam-do is embarking on a major restoration and maintenance project for Woljeong Seowon (月井書院·Local Cultural Heritage No. 16), located in Gwanggok Village, Noan-myeon, due to aging deterioration.

According to the city on the 20th, Seowon were private institutions established nationwide after the mid-Joseon period to honor notable virtuous scholars (Myeonghyeon, 明賢) and to cultivate talented individuals.

Woljeong Seowon was founded to commemorate Saam Park Sun (1523?1589), a mid-Joseon scholar-official who served as Chief State Councillor and Left State Councillor, holding the highest ministerial posts for 14 years.

Naju 'Woljeong Seowon,' a royal-licensed Confucian academy enshrining Saam (思菴) Park Sun, a renowned prime minister of the mid-Joseon period [Photo provided by Naju City]

Park Sun was a renowned virtuous minister and a model of integrity who was respected by later generations for his unwavering honesty and incorruptibility, always speaking frankly to the king for righteous governance without seeking power or wealth, and never compromising with injustice.

Woljeong Seowon has maintained its legacy as one of Naju’s representative royal-licensed seowon, standing alongside Gyeonghyeon Seowon (景賢書院), the region’s first royal-licensed seowon founded in 1583.

In particular, it is recognized as an important historic site that reflects the local aristocratic trends and the development of seowon culture in Naju during the 16th and 17th centuries, holding historical value as a royal-licensed seowon closely connected to regional history rather than a clan-based seowon.

However, the current deterioration of the shrine and inner gate is severe, with roof leaks and structural decay progressing, and the surrounding walls collapsing, making urgent large-scale repair and reinforcement necessary.

Last year, the city decided to proceed with restoration and maintenance to establish Woljeong Seowon as a representative site of integrity through mutual cooperation, following a business agreement with the Korea Power Exchange, a public institution relocated to the Innovation City, aimed at fostering anti-corruption and integrity culture.

Previously, in August last year, the two organizations held a special lecture on integrity at the Korea Power Exchange for its integrity department and executives, re-examining the life of Park Sun.

The restoration of Woljeong Seowon will focus on dismantling and repairing the shrine and inner gate, as well as repairing the surrounding walls, with a total project cost of 600 million KRW (40% provincial subsidy, 60% city funds) planned.

Upon completion of the maintenance in the second half of this year, it is expected that a pleasant and safe viewing environment will be created, establishing Woljeong Seowon as a representative site of integrity in Naju.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae stated, “Through the restoration of Woljeong Seowon, we will solemnly honor the clear and upright spirit of integrity of Saam Park Sun, a representative figure of integrity in Naju, and create a site symbolizing integrity culture, spreading the culture of integrity as well as providing a safe and comfortable viewing environment.”

Meanwhile, Woljeong Seowon was originally founded in 1659 under Woljeong Peak of Geumseong Mountain in Naju.

It was abolished in 1868, the 5th year of King Gojong’s reign, following the order by Heungseon Daewongun to destroy seowon.

Later, scholars erected a memorial stele and performed altar rites (Seoldan Hyangsa, 設壇享祀?rituals performed by descendants at an altar after the seowon was lost), and in 1974, the shrine and lecture hall were relocated to the current site and restored.

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yukbong baekok@asiae.co.kr