Jeongamsa Sumano Pagoda | Attraction Guide | K-Travel Mate

Jeongamsa, located in Gohan-eup, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, is an ancient temple founded by monk Jajang during the Three Kingdoms period. It can be found on the way to Hambak Mountain. Entering through the Iljumun gate, one encounters Yukhwajeongsa, Mokudang, and Beomjongnu in sequence, firmly standing on a retaining wall. Crossing Geungnakgyo, a bridge over a narrow waterway that is the habitat of the Korean trout (yeolmogeo), leads to Jeongmyeolgung and the Sumano Pagoda. The spatial arrangement was highly praised by author Yoo Hong-jun in . Especially when facing Jeongmyeolgung and the Sumano Pagoda towering on the hillside behind it, one can feel the truth of that praise. Jeongamsa Jeongmyeolgung is one of Korea’s five major Jeongmyeolbogung shrines. Monk Jajang placed the Buddha’s true relics in the Sumano Pagoda and built Jeongmyeolgung to worship them. For this reason, there is no Buddha statue inside the main hall. The Sumano Pagoda holds special value alongside Jeongmyeolgung. The Sumano Pagoda is a national treasure and a representative Buddhist cultural asset of Jeongseon. Visitors must hike for about 10 minutes up the mountain path to see it. It is a short meditative section. The approximately 9-meter-tall stone pagoda is not large but has an outstanding balanced shape, proudly displaying the neatness characteristic of stone pagodas. From in front of the Sumano Pagoda, you can look down at the Jeongamsa temple grounds below. Pausing to calm the mind as if in meditation, the temple landscape nestled warmly in the mountain offers a gift of peace to the heart.