Goro Seowon

A seowon is a private educational institution established by local Confucian scholars after the mid-Joseon period to study academics and hold rituals for Confucius and distinguished Confucian scholars. Goro Seowon is a seowon located in Sagok-myeon, northwestern Gongju-si, Chungcheongnam-do. It was built in 1808 (the 8th year of King Sunjo's reign) as a shrine to honor Jeong Bun, who served as Uuijeong (Second State Councilor) and supported King Danjong before being executed during the Gyeyu Jeongnan (1453 coup), and his adopted son Jeong Ji-san. In 1924, the ritual hall Gyeongmojae was built, and in 1931, during a renovation, a portrait of Jeong Bun was copied and enshrined. In 1982, it was named Chunghyosa (Shrine of Loyalty and Filial Piety) to commemorate Jeong Bun's loyalty and Jeong Ji-san's filial piety, and a memorial gate (jeongnyeo) was built in front of the shrine, with the royal plaque previously hanging in the shrine moved there. The memorial gate was designated as a local cultural heritage site of Gongju-si in 1997. Earlier, in 1994, Confucian scholars and descendants in the Gongju area named it Goro Seowon, with Jeong Bun as the main enshrinement and Jeong Ji-san as a co-enshrinement. The shrine has a gable roof structure with 3 front bays and 2 side bays, surrounded by a 30-kan wall. Currently, it is managed by the Jinju Jeong clan of Sagok-myeon, and a temple called Gorosa has been renovated and used as a ritual house. Goro Seowon can be accessed via National Route 32, Local Route 629, and Neunggye-gil. The nearest highways are the Dangjin-Yeongdeok Expressway's Magoksa IC and Yugu IC. Nearby attractions include Magoksa Temple, Magoksa Natural Pine Forest Bathing Site, Magoksa Valley, and the Sagok-myeon town center.