Inje Baekdamsa 'Seorak Literature Museum' Construction Begins... Target Opening in 2026

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Inje-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Choi Sang-gi) announced on the 2nd that construction of the Baekdamsa Seorak Literature Museum has commenced, aiming for its opening by the end of 2026.

Conceptual image of the exhibition hall for the 'Seorak Literature Museum,' scheduled to open in 2026 within the Baekdamsa Temple grounds in Inje-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Image provided by Inje-gun Office

The Naeseorak area, where Baekdamsa is located, was a vibrant hub for historical figures such as Joseon Dynasty literati Kim Si-seup, Confucian scholar Kim Chang-heup, independence activist and monk-poet Manhae Han Yong-un, lyricist and poet Lee Eun-sang, and sijo poet Jo Oh-hyun. Their activities continue to be preserved as regional cultural heritage in Naeseorak to this day.

The establishment of the Seorak Literature Museum began to reexamine the spiritual and literary historical value of Seoraksan, including the unique Buddhist literature and travel literature of the Naeseorak region that have continued since the Joseon Dynasty, and to utilize the local cultural heritage.

Conceptual image of the exhibition hall for the 'Seorak Literature Museum,' scheduled to open in 2026 within the Baekdamsa Temple grounds in Inje-gun, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Image provided by Inje County Office

Baekdamsa of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, which is promoting the construction of the literature museum, has been carrying out administrative procedures for the approval of the establishment plan for a private literature museum in Gangwon Province based on the 'Literature Promotion Act' since 2021, and completed the basic plan, architectural, and exhibition designs by last month.

By 2026, a total construction cost of 3.7 billion KRW will be invested, including 1 billion KRW from the provincial government, 2.5 billion KRW from the county government, and 200 million KRW in self-funding, to create the first literature museum in Seoraksan. The site of the Seorak Literature Museum is within the Baekdamsa temple grounds, where the Manhae Education Hall and Manbokjeon building, preserved within the temple, will be utilized as exhibition spaces and storage facilities.

The Manhae Education Hall, with a total floor area of 376㎡ on one floor, will be transformed from its existing lecture space into an 'L'-shaped exhibition space to deeply explore the lives and literary works of figures active around Seoraksan.

Manbokjeon will be converted into a space for museum operations, planned as a document sorting room and office according to storage plans, and essential facilities such as a machine room, fire control room, and communication room will be installed.

Inje-gun plans to actively support the preservation of literary materials related to historical figures of the Seorak area and to widely promote them to the general public through this literature museum construction. It also intends to respond to the expected increase in tourism demand in line with the Baekdam Station area development project.

A Baekdamsa official stated, “At the Seorak Literature Museum, visitors will be able to see at a glance the thoughts and literary world of figures and literati who were active around Seoraksan,” adding, “It will be a space where one can feel the historical and spiritual values embraced by Seoraksan.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.