Looking for something to do in Jeonju outside of Jeonju Hanok Village? The Jeonjuhanggyo Local Confucian School is the place you need to visit.

Jeonjuhyanggyo is a local Confucian school established during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). This was a national education center during the Joseon period. With such extensive history, it is little wonder that it is a designated Historic Treasure!

It may be a little difficult to find your way around outside the Hanok Village, but not to worry as there are signs leading to the school:

You should spot the following architecture and sign board outside, which tells you that you’re at the right place.

You will also find this signboard here. It tells you more about the history of the Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School, and what you can expect to see in the school compound:

There is also a signboard to tell you which K-dramas are filmed here. These include popular titles such as Moonlight Drawn by Clouds and Sungkyunkwan Scandal!

I saw this signboard in 2019 but didn’t see it again in 2023 – not sure if I just missed it or they may have removed it.

Passing through this building will bring you to the main school compound.

The structure of Jeonjuhyanggyo is based on the ‘shrine in the front and lecture hall in the back’ style that it has the altar in the front.

Confucius and the Four Saints are enshrined in the center of Daeseongjeon. The Ten Wise Confucius’ Disciples and the Six Sages of Song Dynasty are on the left and right side, respectively.

The photos above were taken in 2019 and those below in 2023. You can see a stark difference due to the weather – one in spring and one in late autumn. If you go on a cloudless sunny day, you get to snap beautiful clear blue skies!

I highly recommend walking up the steps and turning around to get some good photos of the whole compound. Tall gingko trees and leading paths nicely frame the Myeongnyundang for a nice shot.

There are two huge gingko trees planted in the front gardens of Daeseongjeon and Myeongnyundang. These are reportedly four hundred years old!

The ginkgo tree is a symbolic object for the Confucian School. It is resistant to pests, and serves as a role model for Confucian disciples to become a righteous person.

We also found this unassuming little gate at the corner. However, if I recall correctly, this location is actually a pretty iconic scene in Moonlight Drawn by Clouds. You can take a closer look to see if they have any signages to point that out!

The rest of the compound is actually pretty large, with a few other buildings for you to discover.

I believe these housed classrooms, which conduct actual Confucius classes for little children!

Unfortunately they didn’t have any classes going on while we were there (on both trips!), so we didn’t manage to catch that. Some of the buildings were also closed off in 2023, likely for an upcoming event or renovation works.

You can still take a leisurely stroll around the Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School to catch glimpses of the beautiful trees. I highly recommend visiting in autumn, because that’s when the gingko trees are really flourishing!

Based on experience, you can allocate about 1 – 1.5 hours here. You could take up to 2 hours maximum if you’re looking into one of the classes or doing a serious photoshoot here!

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DIRECTIONS

Address: 139 Hyanggyo-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea

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• Jaman Mural Village: colourful revitalised village in Jeonju

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