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Yerim Seowon - 예림서원 (禮林書院) (founded 1567, rebuilt late 17th century onward)

Yerim Seowon is a private Confucian academy founded in 1567 by Yi Do-u to honor the memory of Kim Jongjik (commonly called Jeom Piljae), a notable Confucian scholar of the Miryang area. Originally, Yi Do-u called the academy Deokseong Seowon. However, the prominent scholar Toegye I-hwang, who greatly admired Kim Jongjik, inscribed a plaque with the name "Jeompil Seowon" and had it installed at the academy.

During the Imjin Waeran (the war between Japan and Korea from 1592-98) the academy either fell into disrepair or was burned, but was rebuilt in 1606. In 1637 the academy was moved to a new location in Unryechon (today's Yerim village) and its name was changed to Yerim Seowon. In 1652 a new 5-bay lecture hall was constructed, and a new 3-bay gate was constructed south of the memorial hall. In 1669 it received a royal warrant, which coincided with the gift of the "Yerim Seowon" plaque that currently is on display at the seowon.

In 1678 the new lecture hall was destroyed by fire, and permission was given to relocate the seowon to a new site south of present-day Husapo village. In order to prepare for the move to the new site, the ancestral shrine was ritually burned down. At the new site, the memorial tablet was re-enshrined. Several of the current buildings at Yerim Seowon date from this time.

In 1871 the seowon was ordered closed by order of the regent Daewongun. However, by 1874, the lecture hall and ancilliary buildings were repaired. This part of the seowon was renamed the "Yerim-chae" (Yerim wing). Even during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) Confucian scholars continued to perform sacrificial rites. This practice continues today, though the seowon is no longer used as an educational facility.

According to GPS readings taken by the author, the site is at 35 27.97563' N, 128 43.79534' E (WGS84 map datum). Address: 경남 밀양시 부북면 후사포리.

(Designated City Tangible Cultural Property #79).