조선전기 청년층의 修學은 과거 합격을 통한 관직 진출을 일차적인 목표로 하였다. 그러나 性理學의 확산과 더불어 한편에서는 과거 중심의 수학을 탈피하려는 경향도 나타났다. 이에 따라 수험 당사자인 청년층은 수학의 방향을 둘러싸고 상당한 갈등을 겪게 되었는데, 특히 성리학이 본격적으로 확산되는 16세기에 이르러 이 같은 양상이 두드러지게 나타났다. 그렇다면 擧業과 學問의 수학과정은 어떤 차이가 있었을까? 그리고, 거업과 학문의 구분에서 발생하는 갈등은 어떻게 해소될 수 있었을까? 본 연구는 16세기 경상도 예안현 사족층을 통해 이상의 문제를 살펴보았다.

The primary objective of the youths` studies during the Joseon dynasty period was to pass the national examination and be appointed to a governmental post. During the 16th century, the number of intellectuals increased, yet opportunities allowed to them regarding being appointed or assigned to governmental posts actually decreased. The competition among students applying for the national examination became much more fierce. In the meantime, Neo-Confucianism(性理學) was being spreaded, and a new trend, which indicated the applicants` intention to avoid studies merely aimed at passing the national examination, emerged. As a result, the youth population, which constituted a large body of applicants for the national examination, had to make a hard choice. What would have been the difference between the `Geoeob` practice, and ordinary studies aimed at the passing of a national examination? What made people consider Geoeob very importantly was the heightened value of rising in tile world, and gaining fame. So, avenues to being admitted to a governmental post other than applying for a national examination, or avenues to gaining fame other than being admitted to governmental posts, would have forced the people to reevaluate the cause of Geoeob than only considering it as the ultimate avenue. How the conflicts regarding this Gexoh would have been resolved in the Joseon society during the 16th century? In this article, this question is addressed in terms of the Sajok figures who lived in the Yaean region of the Gyeongsang-do province.