Gangseong Seowon

In the 21st year of King Injo's reign (1643), local Confucian scholars built Wolcheonsa to commemorate the virtues of Mun Ik-jeom and enshrined his spirit tablet. In the 18th year of King Sukjong's reign, Mun Wi-se was additionally enshrined. Mun Wi-se, the 9th-generation descendant of Mun Ik-jeom, raised a righteous army during the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War) and achieved merit, and repelled many Japanese enemies during the Jeongyu War. In the 9th year of King Jeongjo's reign, it received the royal匾额 'Gangseong' (江城) and was elevated to a seowon (Confucian academy), playing a role in local education and producing many scholars. In the 5th year of King Gojong's reign, it was demolished due to Heungseon Daewongun's seowon abolition policy, but was restored in 1905 by Confucian scholars of Jeollanam-do and remains to this day. Major buildings within the grounds include Sungdeoksa, Gangsudang, Junso, and Wonjiksa. In the center of Sungdeoksa is the spirit tablet of Mun Ik-jeom, and on the left is the spirit tablet of Mun Wi-se. Gangsudang is the lecture hall of the seowon, with a wooden floor in the center and side rooms on both sides, used for various events and academic discussions. Junso, along with the ritual preparation hall, is a place where ritual food is prepared and stored during ancestral rites, and the right side room is used as lodging for officials.