Hwasan Seowon | Attraction Guide | K-Travel Mate

Chilgok Hwasan Seowon was established in 1651 (Hyojong 2) by Jang Gyeong-woo, who built a seodang (confucian academy) under Hwasan in Seonggok-ri in his later years to educate future scholars, personally naming it Hwasan Seodang. After Jang Gyeong-woo's death, he was enshrined at Okgyesa, but the building fell into disrepair without caretakers. In 1840 (Heonjong 6), the Confucian scholars moved the seowon to the southern foot of Bongusan (current Jungi, Seokjeok-eup) and expanded the building to five kan. Originally, there seemed to be only a lecture hall, and the current gatehouse was likely built by relocating and reconstructing the site. Later, in 1844, a shrine was built north of the hall, but it was destroyed in 1871 (Gojong 8) due to Heungseon Daewongun's seowon abolition order, leaving only the lecture hall building.