Anseong Bongeopsa Site to Become Nationally Designated Cultural Heritage

Taejo Wang Geon Eojin (御眞) Enshrined Jinjeon Temple
Cultural Heritage Committee Review Passes Historic Site Designation

The site of Bong-eopsa Temple in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, believed to have enshrined the eojin (royal portrait) of King Taejo Wang Geon of the Goryeo Dynasty, will be designated as a nationally recognized cultural heritage historic site.

A view of Bongeopsa Temple Site located in Juksan-myeon, Anseong City. There are records stating that a portrait of King Taejo Wang Geon of the Goryeo Dynasty was enshrined here.
[Photo by Anseong City]

Anseong City announced on the 14th that the Bong-eopsa site passed the Cultural Heritage Committee's review for historic site designation on the 13th, following on-site investigations by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Cultural Heritage Committee.

The Bong-eopsa site is located in Juksan-ri, Juksan-myeon, Anseong City, and is the site of Bong-eopsa, a main temple of the Goryeo period. Bong-eopsa is recorded as a main temple that enshrined the eojin of King Taejo Wang Geon of the Goryeo Dynasty. It is the only archaeologically verified main temple of the Goryeo period in South Korea and was designated as a Gyeonggi-do monument in 2003.

The city had applied for historic site designation twice, in 2009 and 2019, but the designation was deferred due to the need for additional excavation investigations. Since then, the city has continuously promoted excavation and research to highlight its historical and archaeological value, ultimately passing the review for historic site designation this time.

Excavations revealed that the central temple complex of the Bong-eopsa site follows a one pagoda, one main hall architectural style, and the area enshrining King Taejo Wang Geon's eojin was arranged as a separate annex away from the central complex. Notably, the enshrinement area is surrounded by corridor buildings around the central building site and courtyard, preserving the royal architectural style of the Goryeo period well.

Through the layout style and inscribed roof tiles unearthed, the city confirmed that Bong-eopsa was extensively reconstructed during the reign of King Gwangjong (949?975) to emphasize the legitimacy of royal authority.

The Bong-eopsa site will undergo a 30-day designation notice period before final review and official designation announcement. The city plans to establish a comprehensive maintenance plan for systematic preservation and utilization of the Bong-eopsa site and intends to leverage it as a major historical and cultural tourism resource in connection with nearby Jukjusan Fortress and Buddhist cultural heritage in the Juksan-myeon area.

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