Magoksa Temple, Gongju

Jjw · CC BY-SA 3.0

A temple set in the bend of a stream, and split in two by that same water.

Magoksa was built exactly where a stream loops almost into a circle, and the temple sits on both banks joined by a small bridge — the north bank for study and living, the south for the halls of worship, so you cross the water to pass from daily life into ritual space. The siting was held to be so auspicious that old geomancy texts list Magoksa among the places spared from calamity. In the courtyard stands a five-storey stone pagoda with a Tibetan-style metal finial, a trace of exchange under the Yuan. The independence leader Kim Gu hid here and took vows after killing a Japanese officer, and the cypress he planted still stands.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Magoksa Temple, Gongju?

April (cherry blossom) and October–November

How much does it cost to visit Magoksa Temple, Gongju?

Free (the cultural heritage fee was abolished in May 2023); parking charged separately

How long do you need at Magoksa Temple, Gongju?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Magoksa Temple, Gongju?

08:00–18:00

Did you know

Inscribed by UNESCO in 2018 as part of the Sansa mountain monasteries.
The temple is divided across two banks of a stream, linked by a bridge.
Its five-storey stone pagoda has a Tibetan-influenced metal finial from the Yuan period.
Kim Gu took vows here; the cypress he planted still stands in the courtyard.

Travel tips

The Baekbeom Myeongsang-gil path around the temple takes about an hour.
Cherry blossom along the stream in spring, red leaves in autumn — both are good.
It is about 40 minutes by bus from Gongju station.

Source: https://www.cctoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2177268

Updated: 2026-08-04