Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa

Mobius6 · CC BY-SA 4.0

A temple that sits inside an earthen fortress, with four naked figures holding up the eaves because of an old grudge.

Jeondeungsa is a rare temple built inside city walls — Samnangseong on Ganghwa Island, said to have been raised by the three sons of Dangun. You pass through the fortress gate before you reach the temple gate, both lost in forest. What stops visitors longest are the four corners of the Daeungjeon roof: each carries a kneeling naked woman bearing the weight, and the story goes that the carpenter, whose lover ran off with his money, carved her there to hold up the roof for eternity. Ganghwa is where the court sheltered from the Mongols for thirty years, so the whole island is scattered with walls and forts facing the estuary.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa?

April–June and September–November

How much does it cost to visit Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa?

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

How long do you need at Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Jeondeungsa Temple, Ganghwa?

08:00–18:00

Did you know

Traditionally dated to 381, making it one of Korea's oldest temples.
It stands inside the earthen fortress of Samnangseong on Ganghwa Island.
The four roof corners of Daeungjeon carry figures bearing the eaves, tied to the carpenter's legend.
The temple once held Tripitaka woodblocks before they moved to Haeinsa.

Travel tips

The ticket covers the Samnangseong fortress; walking the wall adds another hour.
The bus from Seoul to Ganghwa takes about 1.5 hours.
Pair it with the Ganghwa dolmen site on the same day.

Source: https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202305011106001

Updated: 2026-08-04