Cheongju Hyanggyo (淸州鄕校) is a national school of the Cheongju region during the Joseon Dynasty where memorial tablets of distinguished Confucian scholars were enshrined and worshipped, and local people were educated and morally cultivated. It is believed to have been established during the reign of King Taejo of Joseon. In the 26th year of King Sejong's reign (1444), Sejong bestowed books upon Cheongju Hyanggyo during his visit to Chojung (椒井), and in the 10th year of King Sejo's reign (1464), Sejo personally performed ancestral rites at the Munmyo (Confucian shrine) during his visit to Cheongju. It was the foremost hyanggyo among the three southern provinces (Samnam: Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do). Later, in the 9th year of King Sukjong's reign (1683), county magistrate Lee Eon-gi relocated it to its current site, and it has undergone several restorations since. Currently, six auxiliary buildings remain, including Dae Seongjeon, the ritual space, and Myeongnyundang, the educational space. During the Joseon Dynasty, it was supported by land, slaves, and books supplied by the state, but after the Gabo Reform (1894), its educational function ceased, leaving only its ritual function, preserving its historic appearance.
The Anglican Church in Cheongju began in 1922 when British missionary Father G. E. Hewlett held a home worship service in Daeseong-dong, and the current cathedral was built in 1935 with 32 rooms by Bishop Cecil Cooper. This building places foundation stones on a low platform and erects square pillars; the wooden Korean-style house has a ladder-shaped truss supporting the roof ridge on the main and cross beams, with a hipped-and-gabled roof topped with traditional Korean tiles. Inside, two rows of tall pillars stand in the center, with side halls created by eaves on both sides of the pillars, forming a three-aisle cathedral interior. The windows are decorated with arches at the top, and the main entrance has a rectangular mullioned window above. The exterior walls are finished with brick and concrete, and the interior walls with lime. It is regarded as reflecting early Anglican priests' desire for localization. This building is a valuable cultural heritage that combines Korean traditional house structure with Western form, showing a hybrid style where Western architecture and Korean architecture blend, illuminating the adoption of Western architecture and modern changes in traditional architecture.
Cheongju Youth Plaza, located in front of Jungang-dong Administrative Welfare Center in Cheongju, is situated on the site where Jungang Theater stood in the 1960s and 1970s. Until a few years ago, the area saw reduced foot traffic, but Cheongju Youth Plaza and the Pine Tree Road were developed there. Although small in scale, the plaza features several sculptures including the Statue of Peace Girl. It provides benches and rest areas where residents and travelers can relax. The spacious plaza hosts year-round events, performances, flea markets, and youth gatherings. Among these, the Youth Gathering is organized by Cheongju City, where young people prepare various performances and experience careers and jobs. Dance, band, samulnori, and cheerleading teams participating in youth club performances can also be seen.
Musimcheon is a stream flowing from south to north, dividing Cheongju into east and west. Every spring, a cherry blossom street forms centered around Musimcheon Sports Park, which was created along Musimcheon. Thanks to this, a festive atmosphere is created by visitors who come out for outings. In addition to cherry blossoms, native Korean species such as buckwheat, wheat, cotton, and rapeseed flowers bloom in full bloom along the riverside throughout the four seasons. There are also citizen convenience facilities and sports facilities such as a cool water fountain, inline skating rink, bicycle-only road, and walking trail.
Cheongju City restored the old Cheongju Station and created it as a history park. The old Cheongju Station waiting room and ticket gate have been fully reproduced, and there is an exhibition hall containing stories of Cheongju Station. Beyond the station, railway tracks and platforms appear. On the platform, there are statues of a station worker and passengers, along with a recreated old railroad crossing scene. The exhibition room features various photo zones and displays of old Edmondson-style train tickets, ticket scissors, inspection scissors, stamps used to mark issue dates, and models of trains that operated at the time. It is a great place to take a nostalgic trip, imagining the Chungbuk Line and Cheongju Station that once passed through the old downtown area. In front of Old Cheongju Station History Park is a wide marble plaza where many longboarders enjoy riding against the backdrop of the retro atmosphere of the old station.
Yonghwasa Temple is a Unified Silla period temple located by the Musimcheon river in Cheongju. It was first built by Eunjung Seonsa during Queen Seondeok's reign and was destroyed by fire in the 6th year of King Injo of Joseon. It was rebuilt in the 18th year of King Yeongjo's reign (1752) by Byeokdam Seonsa and named Yonghwasa, which remains today. The temple grounds include wooden buildings such as Bogwangjeon, Myeongbujeon, Yonghwajeon, Tamjindang, Jeokmukdang, and Haewollu, as well as the Four Lion Dharma Wheel Pagoda containing Buddha’s relics, and the Saritap of Monk Hyobong. The Four Lion Dharma Wheel Pagoda is a rare ancient Ashoka-style stone pagoda in Korea, enshrining seven genuine relics. There are mountain hermitages including Dosolam, built in the 26th year of Goryeo’s King Taejo (943) by Dosol Seonsa, and Gwaneumam, built in the 7th year of King Sukjong of Joseon (1681) by Cheongan Seonsa. Inside Yonghwasa is the Seven Seated Stone Buddha, discovered in 1902 by order of Queen Sunbin Eom, the wife of King Gojong, and there is a story that Boguksa Temple from Sangdangsanseong was relocated here. Unlike typical temples, Yonghwasa is located in the city center and is accessible to everyone; it also offers templestay programs, making it a good place to stay for cleansing body and mind. In spring, a cherry blossom festival is held along the Musimcheon around the temple.
