Jungheungsa Temple | Attraction Guide | K-Travel Mate

Jungheungsa Temple is located about 2.5 km south of Okryongsa Temple, situated within Jungheungsanseong Fortress, which is why it is called Jungheungsa. It is said to have been founded by Doseon Guksa during the reign of King Gyeongmun of Silla. During the Imjin War, after fierce battles with Japanese soldiers, all the monastery soldiers died, and the temple was burned down and abandoned, surviving only as a hermitage. It was rebuilt in 1963 and restored to its current form. Within the temple grounds are National Treasure No. 103, the Twin Lion Stone Lantern (kept at Gwangju National Museum), the three-story stone pagoda of Jungheungsanseong Fortress (Treasure No. 112), and the Stone Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Relief (Jeollanam-do Tangible Cultural Property No. 142). The Twin Lion Stone Lantern currently at Jungheungsa is a replica. During the Japanese occupation, a Japanese individual attempted to smuggle it out illegally but was stopped by the locals. The Jungheungsanseong Fortress that encloses Jungheungsa can be reached by climbing left from the pavilion named Sesimjeong. From the fortress, visitors can enjoy an expansive view stretching to Baegunsan Mountain. Starting from Haun Village entrance in Okryong-myeon, hiking about 800m up the mountain trail leads to Jungheungsa. Visitors can access the temple by crossing the red bridge connected to the parking lot. Directly behind Jungheungsa lies a lake called Jungheungje.