Editing Gyeongju (section)

== Education ==
{{see also|Education in South Korea}}

Gyeongju is strongly associated with the education tradition of [[Hwarangdo]] ("Way of the Flower of Young Men") which was established and flourished during the Silla period. It is a military and philosophical code that offered the basis of training to [[Hwarang]], a military cadet of youths from the aristocratic class. The training equally emphasized practicing academic and martial arts based on Buddhism and patriotism. A number of Silla's greatest generals and military leaders such as [[Kim Yu-sin]] were Hwarang who played a central role in Silla unification of the Korean peninsula. As Silla was integrated into the next ruling dynasty, [[Goryeo]], the system declined and was officially disbanded in the [[Joseon]] period. However, the spirit and discipline were revived in the second half of the 20th century as a form of Korean martial arts with the same name.<ref>Doniger, Wendy (2006) [https://books.google.com/books?id=IDsk47MeksAC&pg=PA482 Britannica Encyclopedia of World Religions] Encyclopædia Britannica, {{ISBN|1-59339-491-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?masterno=172671&contentno=172671 |script-title=ko:화랑도 花郞徒 |trans-title=Hwarangdo |publisher=[[Doosan Encyclopedia]] |language=ko |access-date=2009-09-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050103022341/http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?masterno=172671&contentno=172671 |archive-date=2005-01-03 }}</ref>

[[File:Korea-Gyeongju Hyanggyo-04.jpg|thumb|alt=On a sunny day, a Korean traditional wooden building painted with white and dark red stands on a grass field. Luxuriant trees are seen on the right while a gate is shown at a distance.|A building of the [[Gyeongju Hyanggyo]]]]
Formal education has a longer history in Gyeongju than anywhere else in South Korea. The ''[[Gukhak]]'', or national academy, was established here in 682, at the beginning of the [[Unified Silla]] period.<ref name="Gyeongju City">{{cite web|url=http://eguide.gj.go.kr/detail_view/Detail_view.jsp?cid=8283&tab=1 |title=''Gyeongju Hyanggyo (a local school annexed to the Confucian shrine)'' |publisher=Gyeongju City-Transportation System |access-date=2009-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722140259/http://eguide.gj.go.kr/detail_view/Detail_view.jsp?cid=8283&tab=1 |archive-date=2011-07-22 }}</ref> Its curriculum focused on the Confucian classics for local officials.<ref name="Robinson et al. 2007. p.28"/> After the fall of [[Silla]] in the 10th century, the [[Gukhak]] closed. However, due to Gyeongju's role as a provincial center under the [[Goryeo]] and early [[Joseon Dynasty|Joseon]] dynasties, the city was home to state-sponsored provincial schools (''[[hyanggyo]]'') under both dynasties such as [[Gyeongju Hyanggyo]]. During the later Joseon dynasty there were several [[seowon]], or private Confucian academies, were set up in the city such as [[Oksan Seowon, Gyeongju|Oksan Seowon]] and [[Seoak Seowon]].<ref name="Education">{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=3008024 |script-title=ko:경주시의 교육·문화 |trans-title=Education and culture of Gyeongju |publisher=Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610055533/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?s=&i=3008024 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref>

The education system of Gyeongju is the same as elsewhere in the country. Schooling begins with [[preschool]]s; there are 65 in the city. This is followed by six years in [[elementary school]]s; Gyeongju has 46. Subsequently, students pass through three years of [[middle school]]. There are 19 middle schools in Gyeongju. High school education, which lasts for three years, is not [[compulsory education|compulsory]], but most students attend and graduate from high school. Gyeongju is home to 21 high schools,<ref name="Education" /> of which 11 provide specialized technical training. At each of these levels, there is a mix of public and private institutions. All are overseen by the Gyeongju bureau of North Gyeongsang's Provincial Office of Education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kbgjed.go.kr/edu/main1.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20041016160806/http://www.kbgjed.go.kr/edu/main1.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-10-16 |work=Gyeongju Bureau of Education website|script-title=ko:학교현황|access-date=2005-07-22 |language=ko}}</ref> Gyeongju is home to a school for the [[mentally disabled]], which provides education to students from preschool to adult age.<ref name="Brit Edu" />

[[File:Dongguk University at Night.jpg|thumb|alt=A night scene of a building complex.|Campus of [[Dongguk University]] in Gyeongju at night]]

Gyeongju is home to four institutions of [[tertiary education]].<ref name="Brit Edu" /> [[Sorabol College]] is a technical college in the district of Chunghyo-dong that offers majors specializing in tourism, leisure, health care and cosmetic treatments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.encyber.com/search_w/ctdetail.php?masterno=705561&contentno=705561 |script-title=ko:서라벌대학 Sorabol College 徐羅伐大學 |publisher=[[Doosan Encyclopedia]] |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-31 }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Kim, Hui-jeong (김희정) |date=2009-08-03 |url=http://www.dailian.co.kr/area/news/n_view.html?t_name=dg_news&id=15282 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328073241/https://www.dailian.co.kr/area/news/n_view.html?t_name=dg_news&id=15282 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |script-title=ko:뜨는' 직종 따라 신설학과도 뜬다? |trans-title=New departments becoming popular according to popular jobs? |publisher={{ill|Dailian|ko|데일리안}} |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 }}</ref>

Each of Gyeongju's three universities reflects the city's unique role. [[Dongguk University|Dongguk]] and [[Uiduk University|Uiduk]] universities are Buddhist institutions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=295878 |script-title=ko:동국대학교 (東國大學校) |trans-title=Dongguk University |publisher=Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610060021/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=295878 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=300450 |script-title=ko:위덕대학교 (威德大學校) |trans-title=Uiduk University |publisher=Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610060046/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=300450 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref> reflecting that religion's link to the city.<ref>{{cite news|author=Yu, Nam-gyeong (유남경) |date=2004-02-14 |url=http://www.manbulshinmun.com/upload_html/200402/200402120015.ASP?gb=0010&no=200402120015 |script-title=ko:독점 아닌 공유, 학문발전 지름길 |trans-title=Instead of monopoly, sharing is a fast way for development of scholarship |publisher=Manbul Sinmun |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308065558/http://www.manbulshinmun.com/upload_html/200402/200402120015.ASP?gb=0010&no=200402120015 |archive-date=2012-03-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Yun, Seung-heon, (윤승헌) |date=2006-11-07 |url=http://www.manbulshinmun.com/upload_html/200611/200611070012.ASP?gb=&no=200611070012 |script-title=ko:(인터뷰) 개교 10주년 맞은 위덕대 한재숙 총장 |trans-title=(Inverview) The president, Han Jae-suk of Uiduk University in the 10th year of the foundation. |publisher=Manbul Sinmun |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308133635/http://www.manbulshinmun.com/upload_html/200611/200611070012.ASP?gb=&no=200611070012 |archive-date=2012-03-08 }}</ref> [[Gyeongju University]], formerly Korea Tourism University, is strongly focused on tourism, reflecting its importance in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=289144 |script-title=ko:경주대학교 (慶州大學校) |trans-title=Gyeongju University |publisher=Nate / Encyclopedia of Korean Culture |language=ko |access-date=2009-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610060102/http://100.nate.com/dicsearch/pentry.html?i=289144 |archive-date=2011-06-10 }}</ref>