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Seonggyungwan Academy (built 992 onward)

The Seonggyun-gwan, or National University, was established in Kaesong (Gaeseong) in 992 during the reign of King Seongjong. The university comprised a number of colleges called the Six Colleges of the Capital. Among them, the most prestigious were the University College, High College, and Four Portals College. Each admitted only the sons of aristocrats of a certain rank. For students from baser family backgrounds, there were the Law College, College of Calligraphy, and the College of Accounting.

The layout of the university is similar to that of the Seonggyun-gwan built 500 years later in Seoul. The complex, which sits on a north-south axis, is divided into front and rear territories. The front territory is centered on Myeongryun hall, the main lecture hall of the academy. It is flanked by wings of dormitories on either side. The rear territory was a sacred space where Confucian ceremonies were observed in honor of Confucius, his disciples, and local worthies. The main worship hall, Taeseong hall, is flanked by a row of buildings on either side that housed memorial tablets of Confucian sages.

The academy lost much of its prestige when a new Seonggyun-gwan was founded in Seoul in the early Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). It continued to function in a reduced role. But, in 1592 the academy was torched by invading Japanese soldiers in the Imjim War. It was rebuilt 1602 and used until the end of the dynasty.

In 1987 the academy buildings were renovated by the North Korean government and converted to house the Koryo Museum, a showcase of historical relics of Koryo. Among the sites living treasures are 500-year-old ginko trees and 900-year-old zelcova trees that have stood here since they were first planted.