A special exhibition is underway on Jeju’s O Hyeon (오현). They are the Five Exalted Scholars who contributed to the advancement of education in Jeju during the Joseon (조선) Dynasty. The exhibition displays epigraphs and inscriptions that offer a rare insight into the minds of the five intellectuals. Suejin Choi reports.
Five esteemed scholars... were sent to Jeju during the Joseon Dynasty… either by way of exile or as a court official… and together, they paved the way for the advancement of education on the island.

[slug]
Inscriptions of ‘O Hyeon’ on display
Through Sept. 16 at the Soam Memorial Hall

The five scholars were: 규암 송인수, 청음 김상헌, 동계 정온,
충암 김정, and 우암 송시열.

More than 30 inscriptions of these five scholars are now on display at a special exhibition on Jeju’s O Hyeon(오현)… at the Soam(소암) Memorial Hall.

[INTERVIEW]
Kang Hong-soon / Guide, Soam Memorial Hall
Visitors can see personal inscriptions from the five scholars, who were sent to Jeju during the Joseon Dynasty. We hope the exhibition motivates people to learn more about Jeju’s O Hyeon.
강홍순/ 소암기념관 문화관광해설사
"조선시대 제주에 귀향 왔거나 목사로 오신 다섯분들의 문필을 확인하는 장소가 되겠습니다. 시간이 있으면 여기도 보고, 다시 오현단도 되돌아
*수퍼체인지*
보는 기회가 됐으면 좋겠습니다."

These characters stand for “dream”, “hang” and “wall”.

The powerful strokes of each character portray 우암 송시열’s determination... as he put it… to keep dreams anchored in our hearts like rocks.

Although the five scholars belonged to different schools of thought, they all agreed on the fundamental idea of pursuing moral politics.

They believed that self-discipline led to loyalty, and loyalty led to the construction of a moral nation. And this is strongly conveyed in their writings.

The special exhibition is helping to shed new light on Jeju’s O Hyeon.

[INTERVIEW]

I learned which of the scholars had epitaphs, and other people they were related to. Some of the names I had heard of before and some were new to me. I learned a lot.
강문정/ 경기도 구리시
"어떤 분들의 비문이 있고, 그러한 비문에 누가 관계돼 있는지 알게 되었습니다. 이름이 익숙한 분도 계신데, 그렇지 않은 분들도 계시고 좋은 기회인 것 같습니다."

[camera]
Hyeon Gwang-hoon

The five exalted scholars gave new meaning to an island that was once only considered a place of exile.

[REPORTER]
Suejin Choi

The special exhibition on Jeju’s O Hyeon offers a rare insight into the advancement of education in Jeju during the Joseon Dynasty… and runs until September 16th.

Suejin Choi KCTV