UNESCO Heritage 'Jangseong Pilam Seowon' Reborn as a Tourist Attraction

Renovation of the Artifact Exhibition Hall and Jipseonggwan Completed

Kim Hanjong, Jangseong County Governor, is checking historical information at the Pilam Seowon Artifact Exhibition Hall, which has been reborn as a digital exhibition space. Provided by Jangseong County

Jangseong County in South Jeolla Province announced on October 27 that the Pilam Seowon Artifact Exhibition Hall and Jipseonggwan within the UNESCO World Heritage Pilam Seowon have completed renovation work and will hold a reopening ceremony.

Previously, in 2021, Jangseong County applied for the “Pilam Seowon Confucian Culture Promotion Project” as part of the “Jeonnam Regional Growth Strategy Project” and secured a project budget of 10 billion won. With this, the county designed and produced new exhibition displays for the Artifact Exhibition Hall and Jipseonggwan, and carried out renovation work on Jipseonggwan, completing the project last month.

The Artifact Exhibition Hall has been reborn as a “digital exhibition space” equipped with video, audio, a “media facade,” and mobile “touch screens.” This allows a wide range of visitors-including children, teenagers, and adults-to easily understand and experience the history of Pilam Seowon.

Jipseonggwan has been transformed into a “multi-purpose cultural space” where education, performances, viewing, hands-on experiences, and reading are all possible. The “Cheongbaekri Exhibition Room” and “Academy Archive” inside Jipseonggwan have also been newly opened as the “Integrity Hall,” which explores the modern meaning of integrity, and the “Academy Hall,” which preserves the 30-year history of the Jangseong Academy.

The county plans to actively utilize the Artifact Exhibition Hall and Jipseonggwan, starting with this reopening event. The first event will be the “Pilam Seowon Confucian Festival,” which will take place throughout the Pilam Seowon area on November 1.

This festival, themed “Walking with Haseo,” tells the story of Haseo Kim Inhu, a renowned Neo-Confucian scholar of the Joseon Dynasty who is enshrined at Pilam Seowon. The festival will feature a Pilam Seowon exploration, a “Humanities Talk,” and a “Confucian Scholar Experience Booth.”

The “Pilam Seowon Exploration” program allows participants to wear traditional Confucian scholar attire and explore various parts of the Seowon. During the “Humanities Talk,” Sun Kim, a “history storyteller,” will give an engaging and accessible lecture on history. At the “Confucian Scholar Experience Booth,” visitors can try out the study methods of Confucian scholars or make their own prints of the “Mukjukdo” woodblock, which was bestowed upon Haseo by King Injong.

In addition, after the festival, on November 13 and 14, the county will conduct a pilot “Integrity Culture Experience Education” program for public officials. At the end of this month, an academic conference organized by the Pilam Seowon Sananghoe will also be held.

Governor Kim Hanjong stated, “With the reopening of the Artifact Exhibition Hall and Jipseonggwan, we will further strengthen our efforts to share the historical and cultural value of Jangseong Pilam Seowon, a UNESCO World Heritage site.” He added, “We will do our utmost to make it a vibrant historical tourism destination beloved by residents, tourists, and foreigners alike.”