The Traditional Education of Korea

The ultimate goal of education is to cultivate people and shape their characters. Our ancestors strived to provide such education in the old seodangs (village schools), hyanggyos (public schools) and seowons (private academies). In these institutions, human character and integrity were at the crux of learning: students were taught the importance of character and ways to lead a righteous life. At a time when society no longer benefits from the values of traditional Korean education, this book attempts to shed light on the educational principles upheld by our ancestors and prompt us to reflect on what true education is and what we must do to achieve it.