Kim Mu-che was a scholar and educator under the Goryeo Dynasty, and founder of one of the Twelve Assemblies of Goryeo. He passed the literary examination

Gwageo

The gwageo were the national civil service examinations under the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties of Korea. Typically quite demanding, these tests measured candidates' knowledge of the Chinese classics, and sometimes also of technical subjects...

 in 1035, and rose to a position of rank. Under the reign of Munjong

Munjong of Goryeo

Munjong was the 11th monarch of the Goryeo that ruled Korea from 1046 to 1083.Emperor Munjong was born in 1019 and reigned from 1046 until his death in 1083. During his reign, the central government of Goryeo gained complete authority and power over local lords. Munjong and later emperors...

, Kim opened a private academy called Seowondo (西園徒, or "Western Garden Assembly"), which became one of the leading educational institutions of the kingdom. This and the other Twelve Assemblies came to be preferred over the national academy (the Gukjagam

Gukjagam

The Gukjagam, known at times as Gukhak or Seonggyungwan, was the highest educational institution of the Korean Goryeo dynasty. It was located at the capital, Gaegyeong , and provided advanced training in the Chinese classics. It was established in 992 during the reign of Seongjong...

).