The village where the Hwaamseowon Confucian Academy is located is called the village of Tojeong in honor of prominent scholar Yi Ji-ham who was born here.

Yi was a descendant of “Mogeun” Yi Saek, a prominent scholar of the late Goryeo Dynasty who taught prominent scholars Jeong Mong-ju and Jeong Do-jeon. He excelled in science, math, medicine, astronomy and geography and also studied the art of feng shui under notable scholar “Hwaam” Seo Gyeong-deok.

Although he was from the upper class and served as a senior government official, Yi wore humble clothes and was known for eccentric behaviors. It is said that his behaviors made him approachable to lower-class people struggling with poverty, who he cared passionately for.

Tojeongbigyeol (Secret Divinatory Art of Tojeong) for New Year’s Fortune

Some believe that Yi Ji-ham wrote “Tojeongbigyeol,” or the “Secret Divinatory Art of Tojeong,” after many people came up to him to ask about their future fortunes. However, scholars have different theories about who really wrote the book.

Location | 411 Jukseong-ro, Cheongra-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
, Chungcheongnam-do Foundation | 1610
Purpose | Education, Memorial Service

The Boryeong Naval Headquarters of Chungcheong-do Province was one of the three major fortresses built in Joseon Dynasty for coastal defense and was seen as a critical military strategic point.

Yeongbojeong Pavilion offers a scenic view of the West Sea at the peak of the fortress. Visitors can get there after passing through Hongyemun Gate, the only one remained today of the four stone gates of the fortress. Many poets and painters left plenty of artworks about the pavilion and frequently praised it as “the best pavilion of Joseon.”

Location | Around 931 Soseong-ri, Ocheon-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | 1509
Purpose | Defense, Administration

Eupseong, or fortresses, was usually built in coastal villages to defend against frequent Japanese invasions. Particularly, many of the fortresses were erected from the late Goryeo to the early Joseon period. Nampoeupseong Fortress is one of the representative fortresses built during this period. The fortress is decently preserved, maintaining much of its original shape from the early Joseon period, and is one of the few fortresses that avoided significant destruction during the Japanese colonial period.

After King Gojong ordered the villages to establish educational institutions near fortresses and government offices during the late Joseon period, the Nampo Elementary School was built on the site of Nampoeupseong Fortress. The building of the government office in the fortress had been used as a classroom, but it was later demolished and replaced with modern facilities.

Location | 133 Eupseonghyanggyo-gil, Nampo-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | 1413
Purpose | Education, Memorial Service

Nampo Hyeongam, or the fortress governor, served a dual role as a top military commander in charge of defending the village from foreign invasions and an administrative official who helped maintain national identity and carry out policies instructed by the king.

In part of efforts to maintain national identity, Nampohyanggyo Local Confucian School was also set up near the fortress. It became the top regional educational institution that produced prominent scholars from the Boryeong area. Daeseongjeon enshrines a tablet of “Goun” Choi Chi-won, a great writer of the Unified Silla Kingdom (668-935). Choi was known to have inscribed his poems on the rocks while traveling to Boriseom Island and Seongjusaji. (Seongjusa Temple Site)

Location | 133 Eupseonghyanggyo-gil, Nampo-myeon, Boryeong-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Foundation | 1413
Purpose | Education, Memorial Service