Samcheok Cheokjudonghaebi & Pyeongsutochanbi Monuments (삼척 척주동해비 및 평수토찬비)

.0M 2023-04-18

13-7, Heomok-gil, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-859-5708

Erected by Heo Mok, the governor of Samcheok during the second year of King Hyeonjeong's reign (1661), Cheokjudonghaebi Monument is 170 centimeters tall. It was originally built to protect the village on Mallido Island that had been frequently inundated by heavy rain and rough waves. It is believed that the mystical inscription, penned by Heo Mok, on the monument calmed the rough sea waves. Today, the monument stands to prove the wisdom and distinguished penmanship of the former Samcheok City Governor.

Pyeongsutochan-bi Monument is 145 centimeters tall. It was erected by Heo Mok's successor and former governor of Samcheok, Jung Un-cheol, in reverence for his wise forebear. The monument contains 48 ancient Chinese characters that describe many achievements of Heo Mok.

Wanggung Five-story Stone Pagoda (익산 왕궁리 오층석탑)

.0M 2024-04-07

San 80-1, Wanggung-ri, Wanggung-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-5708

The Wanggung Five-story Stone Pagoda is located on a hill about 2 kilometers south of Wanggung-myeon in Iksan, which is believed to have been the capital of the nation during the Mahan Era. The pagoda stands tall at 8.5 meters and was officially designated as a National Treasure. Relics from the Goryeo dynasty that were found inside the pagoda were designated as a National Treasure and are currently housed in the National Museum of Korea. Of the excavated relics, the most famous; the Sarijangeomgu, a magnificent container of Buddha’s Sarira; the green glass Sarira bottle topped with a lotus-shaped stopper; and the Sungeumgeumganggyeongpan, which contains the 19 golden plates of the Diamond Sutra.

Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri [UNESCO World Heritage] (익산 왕궁리유적 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

201.2M 2024-04-07

666, Gungseong-ro, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-4631

Archaeological Site in Wanggung-ri, designated as Historic Site No. 408 on September 17, 1998, has a surface area of 216,862 square meters. The site has various structures and artifacts from Baekje dynasty to unified Silla period. Artifacts were found within the rectangular-shaped fortress site that surrounds Wanggungri Five-story Stone Pagoda, National Treasure No. 289.

Iksan Godori Standing Stone Buddha (익산 고도리 석조여래입상)

725.2M 2024-04-07

Donggodo-ri, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-5792

Iksan Godori Standing Stone Buddha is Treasure No. 46. The two Buddha statues (each measuring 424 cm) stand face-to-face at a distance of 200 meters apart and tell the story of an eternal, but unrequited love.

According to legend, the two Buddhas (one male, one female) are lovers that can only meet for one night in the twelfth month of the lunar calendar. After the sunset on that special day, the lovers are allowed to meet, but must return to their respective positions before the rooster crows at dawn.

The two statues are very representative of the Goryeo era, which produced many stone statues with minimal expression of the physical body. True to the era, each Buddha has almost no curves and is depicted with plain clothing and barely distinguishable arms.

On their heads, the Buddhas wear a crown topped with another square hat. With their square faces, small eyes, pug noses, and small lips, the Buddhas are reminiscent of guardian deities typically placed at the entrance of villages.

Café Deoki (카페 덕기)

836.4M 2024-04-07

104 Deokgi 1-gil, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do

Café Deoki is a large-scale cafe that opened in 2022. It is well-known for its banana greenhouse, which houses over 100 trees, and also cultivates tangerine trees. Their signature menu items include tangerine juice and banana pudding made from crops grown on-site. The café, known for its exotic banana greenhouse and the entire ambiance, is famous as a photo spot.

Iksan Ssangneung (익산 쌍릉)

2.0Km 2024-04-07

Seogwang-dong, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-5792

The Ssamgneung (Twin Tombs) in Iksan are stone chamber tombs that were unearthed during an academic excavation survey in 1917. At the time of the survey it was discovered the tombs had already been illegally excavated, most likely during the reign of King Chungsukwang of the Goryeo dynasty. Though looters had stripped the tombs of any burial accessories, the wooden coffins were found to be relatively intact.

The coffins were severely damaged in the aftermath of the Korean War, but were later restored by the Jeonju National Museum. When they were first found, the twin tombs measured 3.1 meters high and 0.5 kilometers wide, but some of the original wood was lost during the tombs’ tumultuous history and the restoration that followed. The larger of the restored tombs now measures 30 meters in diameter and 5 meters in x_height while the smaller tomb measures 24 meters in diameter and 3.5 meters in x_height. On January 21, 1963 the tombs were designated Historic Site No. 87.

The Twin Tombs are roughly 200 meters apart, with the tomb in the east called Daewangmyo (big royal tomb) and the one in the west Sowangmyo (small royal tomb). The interiors of the tombs are done in the same style as the stone chamber tombs found in the tomb cluster of Neungsan-ri, Buyeo. Considering that the nearby Mireuksaji Temple Site was built during the reign of King Mu of Baekje dynasty, it is highly likely that the Twin Tombs are those of King Mu and his wife, Queen Seonhwa.

Iksan Seodong Festival (익산서동축제)

3.1Km 2024-04-07

41-14 Godo 9-gil, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-843-8817

Iksan Seodong Festival is held in Seodong Park in Iksan. Iksan is home to the love story of Prince Seodong, who would later become King Mu, for Princess Sunhwa. The festival, which started as the Mahan Folk Festival in 1969, was renamed in 2004 and celebrates the 1400-year history of the Baekje Kingdom.

Seodong Park (서동공원)

3.1Km 2024-04-07

41-14, Godo 9-gil, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-3818

Built alongside the Geumma Reservoir, Seodong Park traces its origins to ancient records from the 600 AD with historical figures (Princess Seonhwa and Seodong, King Mu). More than 100 works of art can be found in the park, including twelve Chinese zodiac animal statues and sculptures of Princess Seonhwa and Seodong. The central plaza features a statue of King Mu, and various amenities such as the Mahan Museum, a children's forest playground, a picnic area, a fountain, and a riverside plaza enrich the experience for visitors.

Geumma Reservoir (금마저수지)

3.2Km 2024-04-07

Donggodo-ri, Geumma-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do
+82-63-859-3818

Looking towards the south from the top of Mireuksan Mountain, one can see Geumma Reservoir. The reservoir is shaped like the Korean peninsula. Hence it is also referred to as Jido Yeonmot, or Map Pond. The terrain is especially beautiful when viewing it through the fog in the early mornings.

The water comes from Mireuksan Mountain, ensuring a steady supply of water throughout the year. There are no factories or other contaminants nearby so the water quality is of the highest grade. Near the reservoir, one can find Seodong Park and Mahan Hall. Seodong Park is a sculpture park displaying various sculptures such as a bronze statue of Baekje’s King Muwang of Baekje and a statue of Seodong’s Princess Seonhwa. Mahan Hall showcases the lifestyle and culture of Mahan, a tribal confederation during the Samhan period. The park also features various facilities such as an observatory, fishing spot and a promenade.

Wanggung Dawon (왕궁다원)

3.6Km 2024-04-07

21-5 Sagok-gil, Wanggung-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk-do

Wanggung Dawon is a hanok café built in the 1800s. It was once the residence of Song Byungwoo, a rich person in the region, and has been operating as a traditional tea house since 2008, preserving the charm of the old hanok. The café offers a wide variety of teas, with the signature menu item being ssanghwatang (herbal tonic tea), a traditional Korean beverage. Ssanghwatang is made with ingredients such as jujube, ginseng, and chestnuts, known for its warming properties.

Samcheok Cheokjudonghaebi & Pyeongsutochanbi Monuments (삼척 척주동해비 및 평수토찬비) - Area information - Korea travel information