Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School

고려 · CC BY 4.0

A Joseon state school with four four-hundred-year-old ginkgos that turn gold every November.

A hyanggyo was a state school established by Joseon in every county, both teaching and enshrining Confucius. Jeonju's is among the best preserved: the Myeongnyundang lecture hall where students sat, the Daeseongjeon shrine holding the tablets behind it, dormitories flanking the courtyard. But what draws the queue in mid-November are the four ginkgos in the yard, reckoned to be over four hundred years old. Ginkgos were planted at schools because the tree is not attacked by insects — the implication being that scholars should keep themselves the same way. The courtyard has appeared in many historical dramas, and entry is free.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School?

Mid-November (golden ginkgo)

How long do you need at Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School?

1 hour

What are the opening hours of Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School?

09:00–18:00 (March–October), 10:00–17:00 (November–February); closed Mondays

Did you know

A hyanggyo was a state-run county Confucian school under Joseon.
The four ginkgos in the courtyard are reckoned to be over 400 years old.
The Daeseongjeon shrine holds the tablets of Confucius and other sages.
It is a familiar location in Korean historical television dramas.

Travel tips

Mid-November is when the ginkgos are brightest and the crowds heaviest.
Entry is free and it opens every day of the week.
It is about 10 minutes' walk from Jeonju Hanok Village.

Source: https://www.jjhyanggyo.or.kr/map01/210

Updated: 2026-08-05