seowon

'''' () were the most common educational institutions of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. They were private institutions, and combined the functions of a Confucian shrine and a Confucian school. In educational terms, the were primarily occupied with preparing young men for the national civil service examinations. In most cases, served only pupils of the aristocratic class. On 6 July 2019, UNESCO recognized a collection of nine as World Heritage Sites.

==History== thumb|left|Gosan first appeared in Korea in the early Joseon Dynasty, whose establishment were driven mainly by the Sarim Neo-Confucian scholars. While the exact year of introduction in Korea is not known for certain, in 1418 King Sejong issued rewards to two scholars for their work in setting up in Gimje and Gwangju. The first to receive a royal charter was the Sosu Seowon in Punggi, presided over by Toegye, which was given a hanging board by King Myeongjong in 1550. While historian Michael Shin mentions that the earliest was established in North Gyeongsang by Ju Sebung (1495–1554).