The Reinstatement of Seowon and Related Expenses in the Japanese Colonial Era: Focusing on Imho Seodang (臨湖書堂) in Andong
Authors:   Institute of Korean Cultural Studies Yeungnam University, Chae Gwang-Soo 
Published: October 2023

It is a common belief that the historical meaning of Seowon ended after Daewongun’s decree of demolishing Seowon. Therefore, Seowon in late Joseon and the Japanese colonial era were not subject to objective exploration or research, and interest in data generated after modern times was rather low. However, Seowon began to be built or rebuilt immediately after Daewongun’s resignation, and it is still being actively done today.
If a number of Seowon were reinstalled, how was it done then? There are the conditions of Seowon that can answer this question. It is Imho Seowon in Andong which enshrines Kim Yong (金涌). It is because ancient documents generated before and after the reinstatement in the Japanese colonial era are well preserved in this Seowon. First, based on the notes of rebuilding (Igeon Ilgi), the process of reinstalling Imho Seowon was reconstructed, and next, existing ancient documents were analyzed to shed light on all related costs and functions.
Around 1920, Kim Yong’s descendants decided to reinstall Imho Seowon inside the precincts of Imcheon Seodang (臨川書堂). The main factor in the decision of its reinstallment was the economic power previously held by that Seowon. Normally, the properties of abolished Seowon were treated by Sokgong (屬公), Hyanggyo Isok, or the voluntary disposition of the operating clan. Imho Seowon, however, still held Seowon Jeon (書院田) even after the demolition. In the process, some noise was there, too, but through the process of forming a consensus among Uncheon-gye ⇨ Beom (凡) Uiseong Kim’s family ⇨ Horon-gye, it was rebuilt as Seodang in 1922 after 55 years from its demolition.
The project to rebuild Seowon is a construction work that requires enormous human and material costs. In the situation where they could not expect enough human and material support from the government, the only way to secure financial resources was the aid from descendants and other families. Fortunately, thanks to the great interest and cooperation of descendants, Imcheon Seowon collected a total of 19,765 Nyang that was 765 Nyang more than the estimated amount. The specific expenses spent on the project of rebuilding include not only a total of 13,105 Nyang 9 Jeon 5 Pun for construction but labor costs, food costs, and eating expenses, too.
Imho Seodang rebuilt in this way seems to have been unable to perform ancestral rites because there was no shrine, and it mainly functioned as a place for meeting. E very year, they held a regular meeting and also gathered whenever there was a crucial issue of the family or village. In the meeting, not only the members of the family but Yurim living distantly, too, attended.
Why did they intend to reinstate Seowon then? The biggest reason is the social atmosphere of the early 20th century in which they still needed Seowon. In other words, the sense of crisis coming from the loss of a family’s foundation, Seowon, which was the medium for exercising power in the traditional village played a major role.