Hansansa (寒山寺) is a branch temple of Beopjusa, the head temple of Jogye Order's 5th district of Korean Buddhism. It is a representative temple in the center of Jecheon area. According to historical records, it was founded as Johe-sa (照慧寺) in the 24th year of Goryeo King Myeongjong's reign (1194) and maintained its Buddhist lamp until being renamed Hansansa during renewal in 1934. In 1984, Monk Hyeon-hae rebuilt the main hall and monk quarters. In 2003, Monk Dong-beom became abbot, and in October 2004, the stone Buddha statue enshrined on the temple grounds was designated as Chungcheongbuk-do Cultural Heritage Material No. 45 under the name "Jecheon Hansansa Stone Standing Buddha" (提川 寒山寺 石造如來立像). Additionally, to restore the large main hall, monk quarters, and temple area and continue the tradition, it was designated a traditional temple by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in December 2005. In May 2007, the roof tile restoration of the main hall was completed. Through continuous protection, the temple has been cultivated as a center for practice and missionary work in the city. The Jecheon Hansansa Stone Standing Buddha located at Hansansa is a Joseon Dynasty statue reflecting late Goryeo Buddha statue style. The stone Buddha is 2.8m high, standing on a brick pedestal. Except for the pedestal, the body is a single stone column, wider at the bottom than the top, with flat sides. The front is carved in relief, while the sides and back are uncarved. The face is oval with a relatively large nose, sharp eye corners, and a slightly open mouth in a smile. The entire carving technique consists of carefully carved lines.
This is the stone standing Buddha statue housed at Jecheon Hansansa. It is a Joseon Dynasty Buddha statue retaining the style of Buddha images from the late Goryeo period. The stone Buddha stands 2.8 meters tall and is placed on a pedestal made of bricks. Except for the pedestal, the body is formed of a single stone pillar. The bottom surface is wider than the top, and the sides are flat. The front is carved in bas-relief, while the left, right sides, and back have no carvings. The face is oval-shaped with a relatively large nose compared to the face. The eyes are sharp at the corners, and the mouth is slightly open with a smile. The overall carving technique involves carving the lines one by one. Nearby places worth visiting include Uirimji Reservoir and Jecheon Citizen Hall.
Wongaksa (圓覺寺) is a Korean Buddhist temple of the Taego Order located in Namcheon-dong, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. True to its name, Wongaksa is a place to seek enlightenment. Although situated along a main road, a high retaining wall forms a firm boundary for the temple grounds, and below lie Doksongjeongsan and Gyodong downtown, places where those seeking the compassion of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva dwell. The establishment of a site devoted to Avalokiteshvara in Jecheon, a region barren of Buddhism, was largely due to the devout Buddhist spirit of Monk Yeongji from Jiamdang. Wongaksa was founded in 1936 by Monk Yeongha. The temple grounds were established as a traditional temple in Namcheon-dong, and soon after, Monk Hyebong presided as head and organized the temple complex. Later, Monk Yeongji from Jiam resided and expanded the temple grounds over 30 years until his passing in 1988. Currently, structures such as the Guanseumjeon built in the 1960s, monks' quarters, and the Iljumun gate remain. In the 1960s, Monk Yeongji who came to Wongaksa actively led the Jecheon Buddhist Association and founded Jecheon Buddhist College, pioneering Buddhist propagation, and also served as the Taego Order’s central executive while promoting social projects.
This is the old office building of the Jecheon Yeopyeoncho Production Cooperative located in Myeong-dong, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. It was designated as a Registered Cultural Heritage on September 27, 2003. Built in 1918 as the office for the cooperative at its establishment, this wooden structure exudes a modern atmosphere through features like its arched entrance. The window above the entrance has a distinctive geometric pattern, and the exterior decorations and floor plan are well preserved in their original form. It clearly reflects the transitional architectural style and office facility characteristics of the modernization period during the Japanese colonial era. Nearby is the Jecheon Yeopyeoncho Storage Handling Center, built around the same time.
The Jecheon Yeopyeoncho Storage Office is a representative facility of Korea’s modern tobacco industry. It is a building constructed in the Japanese-style single-story wooden structure after demolishing the storage cabinet and warehouse. Its shape is an 'ㄱ'-shaped floor plan. The space is organized sequentially to perform tobacco storage work with areas such as the lower yard, arranging yard, cultivator waiting room, accounting office, appraisal room, inventory comparison room, and storage master’s room. It provides a comprehensive view of the tobacco production process at that time. Especially, the appraisal room preserves original facilities such as a circular rail for tobacco appraisal and a humidity control device with water placed on the floor of the storage master’s room. Currently, the tobacco storage office has been transformed into a complex cultural space under the name 'Yeopyeoncho Salon.' In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival in 2024, the storage master’s space was newly remodeled. The building uses wooden trusses, giving a structurally stable impression, and the roof frame is exposed, enhancing the spatial richness in design. The Jecheon International Music & Film Festival operates various cultural events year-round in this historically valuable space, including exhibitions, performances, film screenings, educational programs, and regional cooperation projects. Notably, the JIMFF OST Fair has been held during the festival period.
Located in the heart of Jecheon, Chungbuk, Jecheon Original Downtown Commercial District is the living heart of the city with a long history and the center of past commercial activity, serving as a space where tradition and modernity harmoniously coexist supporting the lives of local residents. Walking through the narrow alleys, visitors can find old signs showing traces of time alongside shops transformed with a modern sensibility. It offers not only the warmth unique to traditional markets but also new spaces such as the trendy shared kitchen 'Moa Kitchen' for the MZ generation, emotional cafes, independent bookstores, and handmade craft workshops, making it the core commercial area of Jecheon.
