Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Cheongju (South Korea). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Heungdeoksa Temple site, Heungdeok-gu, and Chungbuk National University. Also, be sure to include Korea Air Force Academy in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Cheongju (Chungcheongbuk-do).
Table of Contents
Heungdeoksa Temple site
Heungdeoksa temple site, is the site of the historic Heungdeoksa Temple, a Buddhist temple which existed during the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods, in Heungdeok-gu, South Korea.
The temple is believed to have been constructed prior to 848 and was destroyed by fire in the late 1370s. The exact location of Heungdeoksa temple remained unknown until 1985, when a number of relics were discovered as part of a land development project in the area by the Korean Land Development Corporation. The Cheongju University oversaw the archaeological excavation and confirmed it was the location of the Heungdeoksa temple, after discovering a bronze gong and bowl, with the temple's inscription on them. The site was designated as a historic site (No. 315) on May 7, 1986. A reproduction of a Buddhist prayer hall and a three-story stone pagoda have been constructed on the site based on the excavation survey.
The temple was where the Buljojikjisimcheyojoel, the world’s oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, was printed. The book was compiled by the Buddhist monk, Baegun, in 1374, and was printed using movable metal type at the temple in the third year of King Uwang’s reign (1377). This book precedes the publication of the Gutenberg Bible (published in 1455) by 78 years. The book was acquired by Victor Collin de Plancy, the chargé d'affaires with the French Embassy in Seoul in 1887 during the reign of King Gojong and subsequently donated to the Bibliothèque nationale de France, where it currently remains. In 1972, the Buljojikjisimcheyojoel was officially recognised as the world’s oldest printed book and in 2001 it was registered in the UNESCO Memory of the World.
On March 17, 1992 the Cheongju Early Printing Museum was opened adjacent to the heritage site, to promote Korea's historic printing culture.[1]
Heungdeok-gu
Also known as: 흥덕구
Heungdeok-gu is a non-autonomous district in the City of Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Heungdeok-gu was re-established from a part of Heungdeok-gu and a part of Cheongwon-gun in July 2014. The newly created Seowon-gu annexed the part of Heungdeok-gu.[2]
Chungbuk National University
Also known as: 충북대학교
National university in Cheongju, South Korea. Chungbuk National University is one of ten Flagship Korean National Universities. It takes its name, Chungbuk, from the common abbreviated form of the province's Korean name Chungcheongbuk-do.[3]
Korea Air Force Academy
Also known as: 대한민국 공군사관학교
Educational institution in Cheongwon-gun, South Korea. Korea Air Force Academy is a Republic of Korea Air Force institution for the undergraduate education and military training of officers. It is located at Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea. The current superintendent of the Academy is Lieutenant General Park, Ha Sik.
Seongmudae (Korean: 성무대, Hanja: 星武臺, literally Military Star Base) is another name of the academy.[4]
Sangdang-gu
Also known as: 상당구
Sangdang-gu is a non-autonomous district in the city of Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Sangdang-gu was re-established from a part of Sangdang-gu and a part of Cheongwon-gun in July 2014. The newly created Cheongwon-gu annexed the part of Sangdang-gu.[5]
Seowon University
Also known as: 서원대학교
is a four-year private university located in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, South Korea. It was established in 1968 and was also called Cheongju College of Education by its old name.
It is a medium-sized university with 6,825 undergraduate and 168 graduate students. It comprises six undergraduate colleges and two graduate schools. The undergraduate colleges are made up of nine faculties, twenty-five departments, and twenty-three majors. The graduate schools are composed of twenty-seven departments and fifteen majors.
It maintains sisterhood relationships with forty-seven universities in fifteen countries: Canada, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Russia, United States, Italy, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and Ukraine. This sisterhood relationship is provided to Seowon University students for exchange student programs and field trips.[6]