Sosu Seowon

소수서원

Korea's first royal-chartered academy, by a pine grove

Address

2740 Sobaek-ro, Sunheung-myeon, Yeongju

Thick pines line the path from the entrance. Walk through and you reach the tiled lecture hall and the study quarters where students lived. It was the first academy in Korea to receive a royal name plaque, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. An hour covers the buildings, but the pines slow you down. Many pair it with Seonbichon next door for half a day.