In Hwaamsa Temple in Yesan, you can find the urn carrying the remains of Chusa (Kim Jeong-Hui), renowned scholar of the Joseon Dynasty. Chusa was born in Yesan and his birthplace (his parent’s house) and Chusa Gotaek (his house) are located nearby. Hwaamsa Temple was constructed by Chusa’s great-grandfather, Kim Han-Sin, who was related by marriage to royalty. If you visit the Hwaamsa Temple, you might not feel like you’re in a temple at first, since the Yosachae (monk’s living quarters) are located at the temple entrance. After you go past the monk’s living area, you’ll see the temple and the spot where Chusa’s remains are held. The temple is very tidy and silent, which might be because it is where the female monks train.

This village, located in Yeongdeok, Gyeongsangbuk-do, is called ‘Daege Wonjo Village’ (대게원조마을) because the legs of the snow crabs caught in the Donghae Sea (East Sea, 동해) are shaped like bamboo. Since people visited this village in wagons during the Goryeo period, it was called ‘Chayu Village.’ But recently, it has been renamed ‘Yeongdeok Daege Wonjo Village’ and a local monument has been established. The nearby Gyeongjeong Breakwater is famous among anglers.

As neighboring Oseosan Mountain goes through seasonal changes, so do the colors Jeongamsa Temple. Oseosan Mountain brings flowing fields of silver grass every autumn. The fields stretch across the entire mountain and are the inspiration for the annual Silver Grass Festival in October. Situated halfway up the mountain, Jeongamsa Temple’s small size is common for rural villages, but its unique location draws many visitors year-round. * History There are few existing records that can point to the temple’s exact beginning. Some suggest that it was built around 527 A.D. during the 5th year of King Seongwang’s reign, but there is little evidence to support this theory. The only reference alluding to a specific time is Yeojidoseo (‘Detailed Survey of Korean Geography’ published during the late Chosun Dynasty). It states the Jeongamsa Temple location as on Oseosan Mountain, and Oseosan Mountain being surrounded by Hongsan Mountain and Baekwolsan Mountain and intersected by Hongju, Gyeolseong, and Boryeong. This indicates the temple was recognized in the mid-18th century and around the same time, Garamgo (a book about temples, published in the late 18th century) also states that Geongamsa Temple is located approximately 11km to the east of Gyeolseong-hyeon. It is still uncertain whether the temple referred to is Jeongamsa Temple on Oseosan Mountain. Nonetheless, some foundation stones measure 70-80cm on each side. These stones indicate the old Buddhist shrine of Jeongamsa Temple was laid out with five rooms at the front and three rooms on the side. Future archaeological studies will help identify the true history of Jeongamsa Temple.  

Samtan Art Mine, an art complex transformed from an abandoned mine! “Samtan” refers to Samcheok Tanjwa, which was a major coal mine in Korea, and today the name “Art Mine” derived from the term ”coal mine”. Opened in 1965, the coal mine once flourished as the mecca of the industrial age but later declined and was closed in October 2001. Today, both the dynamic and poignant history of the mine are still reflected in the art space. Samtan Art Mine exhibits over 100,000 art works collected from 150 countries from around the world. The art complex also runs artist sponsorship programs. The harmony between the art installations and the interior, which still maintains elements of the former coal mine, creates a unique atmosphere that cannot be found elsewhere. With lots to see and the availability of many special programs, Samtan Art Mine is an unique experience and great photo spot for tourists.

Haposeowon is where the tablets of Munseonggong An Hyang, a forerunner of Sung Confucianism from the late Goryeo era, are enshrined. It was first built in 1716 as Anjabyeolmyo Shrine by An Gyeong-sin, An Gyeong-in, An Gyeong-jeong, and An Gyeong-sang, who are the 15th descendants of An Hyang, and memorial services have been held there every year on March 3rd and September 9th on lunar calendar. In 1843, the shrine was renamed Haposeowon. The shrine was demolished upon the order of regent Daewongun during the reign of King Gojong. Later, An’s descendants rebuilt the shrine in Haposa Temple to perform memorial services for An Hyang. In 1931, additional buildings were constructed while descendant An Bae-ho held discussions with Confucian scholars about rebuilding the shrine. In 1949, the Confucian school was rebuilt with the consent of 218 Confucian schools nationwide. Today, the Yeongi Confucian Scholars Association organizes memorial services for An Hyang on September 12 on lunar calendar.

At the outskirts of Cheongwansan Mountain (723m, in Jangheung) is Cheongwansan Literature Park. The mountain itself is known for a unique array of odd-shaped rocks and ridges, attracting many visitors year-round. Jangheung is nicknamed ‘Literature Town’ for its history of producing outstanding writers. The park commemorates these writers and their development of the modern style of Korean poems, novels, and essays (including Song Gi-suk, Han Seung-won, and Lee Cheong-jun) with a total of 54 monuments; each displaying the best of each writer’s works. A separate monument (7 stories/15m) contains works and handwritten manuscripts by 35 writers and their chronologies in capsules. In addition, over 460 stone towers leading to Tapsansa Temple await visitors.  

Jeonui Hyanggyo Confucian School is thought to have been built in 1413 during the 13th year of King Taejong’s reign. The School features a simple spatial arrangement with only Myeongnyundang and Daeseongjeon Study Halls, each with three gates in the front. Outside the western wall of Myeongnyundang Hall is Sujiksa Temple. Several books - Jaeimnok (24cm×34cm), Seonan ( 28cm×43cm), several texts on rituals, and Eojeyuneum (22cm×35cm, 1782-1783), which was published in 1782 (6th year of King Jeongjo’s reign) and 1783, have been found at Jeonui Hyanggyo.

Included in Hapcheon's 8 Best Landscapes, Hambyeongnu Pavilion was built in 1321 A.D., during the 8th year of Goryeo's King Chungsuk by Hapcheon county lord Kim Mo. It is located on the banks of Hwanggang River, below Yeonhosa Temple and Dayaseong Fortress. The pavilion was visited by many poets, with writings from Toegye Yi Hwang, Nammyeong Josil, and Wooam Song Si-yeol hanging from tablets inside, and a rock engraved with "Hambyeongnu" behind the pavilion. Hambyeongnu is a 3 pillar wide by 2 pillar deep, 2-story pavillion, with an octagonal roof connected with a frame of five parts. The roof of the pavilion is famous in that when it rains, the water drips straight off the eaves and into the river below.