Hwasan Seowon (Pocheon)

Hwasan Seowon traces its origins to Baeksa Seowon, founded in 1631 (the 9th year of King Injo's reign). At that time, Confucian scholars from Pocheon, including Lee Gyeom, established a shrine in Okgeum-dong, Gasan-myeon to commemorate the learning and virtue of Yi Hang-bok, naming it Baeksa Seowon after his pen name. Later, in 1635 (the 13th year of King Injo's reign), it was moved to its current location at the foot of Hwabongsan Mountain. The current outer gate of Hwasan Seowon bears the inscription 'Injo Eulhae Geon' (Built in the Eulhae year of King Injo's reign), leading some to consider 1635 as the year of the seowon's founding. In 1659 (the 10th year of King Hyojong's reign), it was granted a royal charter and renamed Hwasan Seowon after the local place name. In 1746 (the 22nd year of King Yeongjo's reign), King Yeongjo, deeply moved by Yi Hang-bok's contributions during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin Waeran), sent a royal secretary to Hwasan Seowon to conduct a memorial service and specially ordered the appointment of Yi's descendants to official positions. However, in 1868, it was demolished under the Daewongun's decree abolishing seowon. Thereafter, local Confucian scholars erected an altar on the shrine site and continued holding ancestral rites. In 1971, the Hwasan Seowon Restoration Promotion Committee was formed, and the shrine was restored. The eastern and western study halls, walls, triple gates, and red arrow gate were also built. The seowon holds ancestral rites on the 12th day of the 9th lunar month.

Address: 227-40 Gasan-ro, Gasan-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do