The Daeseongjeon shrine at Seonggyungwan, Korea's premier Confucian academy of the Joseon era, has been fully restored after its first major renovation in 157 years. The government said it would actively consider ways to make greater use of the site.
Choi Bo-geun, vice minister of the Korea Heritage Service, said in a congratulatory address at a completion and ancestral-tablet return ceremony held at the Daeseongjeon on the 24th, "I hope this space becomes one loved by more people. I hope we can ease restrictions so that more people can use it, improve how it is used, and repair the facilities further if needed."
The remarks are seen as reflecting an intent to strengthen the value of Seonggyungwan as a cultural heritage site that the public can enjoy, beyond its role in solemn Confucian rites. While saying he was unsure "whether overnight stays will eventually be possible," the vice minister added that "the Korea Heritage Service will actively support efforts to make this a space that can offer opportunities to reflect on the values our society is grappling with."
The Daeseongjeon at Seonggyungwan is a shrine enshrining the ancestral tablets of 39 Confucian sages and scholars, including Confucius, Mencius and Korea's 18 sages — 18 leading Korean Confucian scholars such as Seol Chong, Choe Chi-won, Yi Hwang and Yi I. The name "Daeseong" is a shortened form of the term "jipdaeseong," meaning a great synthesis, and refers to Confucius. The shrine is currently a state-designated heritage site.
The Daeseongjeon was first built in 1398, the seventh year of King Taejo's reign in the Joseon Dynasty. It was destroyed during the Japanese invasions of 1592 and rebuilt in 1602, the 35th year of King Seonjo's reign. After the sagging of an eave on the northeastern side was detected in 2021, the Korea Heritage Service and the Jongno District Office began repair work in September 2023, holding the completion ceremony on this day. It was the first major renovation since 1869, the sixth year of King Gojong's reign — a span of 157 years.
The ancestral tablets of the 39 Confucian sages, which had temporarily left their places for the renovation, were also returned to their original positions on this day. The return procession set out from Bicheondang, northwest of Seonggyungwan, passed along Daeseong-ro and through Sammun, the south gate of the Confucian shrine, and reached the Daeseongjeon along Sillo.
Led by the tablet of Confucius, officials carrying each tablet paired with officials carrying the wooden cases that hold the tablets. The tablet-bearers were Confucian community leaders from across the country, while the case-bearers were young people such as Sungkyunkwan University students and young Confucian scholars, illustrating the intergenerational transmission of traditional culture.
