7th-Century Baekje Mireuksa Revived with AR... Free Experience Until February Next Year

Digital Restoration Experience Center Opens at Mireuksaji in Iksan
"Three Pagodas and Three Main Halls" Main Gates Recreated in Augmented Reality

The UNESCO World Heritage site Mireuksaji in Iksan is being brought back to life with cutting-edge technology.

On October 17, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it will operate the 'Mireuksa Digital Restoration Experience Center' at the Mireuksaji site in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, in cooperation with Iksan City, until February 8 next year. Visitors can directly view and experience the restored Mireuksa main gates (East, Central, and West) on-site through augmented reality (AR) technology.

Mireuksa, built during the reign of King Mu of Baekje in the 7th century, was established to pray for the well-being of the royal family and the salvation of all beings. Today, only the 'Iksan Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda,' designated as a national treasure, remains. At the time, Mireuksa was known to have a "three pagodas and three main halls" structure, with three pagodas, main halls, monks' quarters, and lecture halls paired on the east and west sides.

Based on research and verification conducted since 2008, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage digitally restored the East and West main gates as single-story structures and the Central main gate as a two-story structure. Two architectural styles, 'Pyeonggongpo' and 'Haang structure,' were applied to the Central main gate. Pyeonggongpo is a general structure where members in the beam and rafter directions are interwoven in a cross shape, while the Haang structure is an inclined support structure mainly used in Baekje architecture.

Participants can use a tablet PC or wear smart glasses to view the digitally recreated Mireuksa main gates and watch an animation of the restoration process. They can also take photos with the AR version of Mireuksa as a backdrop and receive them via email.

The experience program is offered free of charge six times a day, from Tuesday to Sunday each week. Up to thirty people can participate in each session, and applications can be made on-site or through the Naver 'Mireuksa Digital Restoration Experience Center' reservation website.

An official from the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage stated, "Starting with the restoration of the Mireuksa main gates, we will continue to expand K-digital content that combines advanced technology and national heritage."