Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang

Site details

Woljeongsa Temple, established in 643 AD (12th year of Queen Seondeok's reign) by the Silla monk Jajang, is uniquely positioned as a Buddhist holy site encompassing an entire mountain, the only such site in South Korea. Peacefully situated in the energy-filled area of Odaesan, Woljeongsa is revered as a sacred mountain of Manjusri Bodhisattva, exuding a serene beauty. In 1964, the temple was the residence of Venerable Tanheo, a master of Hwaeom (Huayan) studies and a scholar of Eastern philosophy. His disciple, Venerable Manhwa, later rebuilt the current Jeokgwangjeon Hall, and Venerable Hyeonhae established the Great Dharma Wheel Hall, completing the temple's grand appearance. Despite suffering losses of many sacred artifacts and cultural assets due to fires and wars, Woljeongsa still retains unique buildings and numerous treasures, including the nationally designated Octagonal Nine-story Stone Pagoda. The temple is also home to the Odaesan Archive, where the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a UNESCO World Heritage document, were stored. This site combines historical significance with beautiful natural surroundings.