Mori-jae

Mori-jae in Geochang is a memorial shrine dedicated to the scholar Jeong On (1569–1641), known by his pen name Donggye. Jeong On succeeded the academic lineage of Nammyeong Jo Sik and studied under Hangang Jeong Gu. In 1610 (the 2nd year of King Gwanghaegun's reign), he passed the civil service examination as a jinsa. In 1614, while serving as a busajik, he submitted a memorial arguing that the execution of Grand Prince Yeongchang was unjust and demanded the beheading of the perpetrator, Ganghwa Busa Jeong Hang. This angered King Gwanghaegun, resulting in a 10-year exile in Daejeong, Jeju Island.

Mori-jae was built after Jeong On's death by local Confucian scholars to honor his virtue and patriotic loyalty. The main gate, Hwayeopru, is a two-story pavilion with a paljak (hip-and-gable) roof, measuring 3 kan in front and 2 kan on the sides, supported by pillars made of naturally rounded stones. To prevent the eaves of the ornate paljak roof from sagging, support pillars were erected at each corner.