Hyanggyo[1] (Korean: 향교) were government-run provincial Confucian schools established during the Goryeo (918–1392),[2] and Joseon (July 1392 – August 1910) periods in Korea.

[3] During this period also, teachers at Hyanggyo received land, royalties, and slaves from the government.

[4] They were officially closed near the end of the Joseon Dynasty, in 1894, but many were reopened as public elementary schools in 1900.

In the Joseon period, hyanggyo were established in every bu, mok, daedohobu, dohobu, gun, and hyeon (the last corresponding roughly to the size of modern-day cities and counties).

Although such education was in high demand, the hyanggyo were ultimately unable to compete with the privately run seowon and seodang.