Established in 992 under King Seongjong, the Gukjagam was the pinnacle of the Goryeo dynasty’s educational system, located in the capital, Gaegyeong. Renamed throughout its history, it was initially called Gukhak and later Seonggyungwan, reflecting its evolution as a center for advanced learning in the Chinese classics. This institution was a key component of Seongjong’s Confucian reforms, which also included the gwageo civil service examinations and the founding of provincial schools, known as hyanggyo. An Hyang, a prominent Neo-Confucian scholar, reinforced the importance of the Gukjagam during his reform efforts in the later years of Goryeo.

The curriculum at Gukjagam was initially divided into six courses, with three dedicated to the children of high-ranking officials—Gukjahak, Taehak, and Samunhak—covering the Confucian classics over nine years. The other three divisions, Seohak, Sanhak, and Yulhak, required six years to complete and were available to children of officials from lower ranks, blending technical training with classical education. In 1104, a military course called Gangyejae was introduced, marking the first formal military education in Korean history, though it was short-lived due to aristocratic-military tensions and removed in 1133.

Financial support for the Gukjagam was substantial; Seongjong’s decree in 992 provided lands and slaves to sustain the institution. Despite this, tuition costs were high, generally limiting access to the wealthy until 1304, when An Hyang instituted a tax on officials to subsidize student tuition, making education more accessible. As for its name, it was changed to Gukhak in 1275, then to Seonggyungam in 1298, and to Seonggyungwan in 1308. It briefly returned to Gukjagam during King Gongmin’s rule in 1358 before finally settling on Seonggyungwan in 1362 until the end of the Goryeo dynasty.