Yongsangsa Temple (Paju)

Yongsangsa Temple is located on the mid-slope of the southern side of Worongsan Mountain. In 993 (the 12th year of King Seongjong's reign), followed by 1010 (the 1st year of King Hyeonjong's reign), and again in 1018 (the 9th year of King Hyeonjong's reign), when 400,000 Khitan troops led by Xiao Paiya advanced as far as Gaeseong, King Hyeonjong fled in civilian attire to this Worongsan Mountain area. Fortunately, after Gang Gam-chan achieved victory at Gwiju, the country was pacified, and King Hyeonjong ordered the construction of a temple to commemorate this event, naming it Yongsangsa, meaning 'the place where the king stayed.' Later, in 1445 (the 27th year of King Sejong's reign), Monk Deokeun Hwaju rebuilt the temple, and at that time, a stone Buddha statue was created and enshrined in the nearby Byeokjang Cave. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin War), the temple served as a training ground for monk soldiers, and the bodies of Japanese soldiers filled the nearby valley, leading to it being temporarily called 'Mudeomgol' (Grave Valley). The history of the temple after the late Joseon period is not recorded, but the temple name appears in the 'Sinjeung Dongguk Yeoji Seungnam' compiled in 1530, and in the 'Beomugo' compiled in 1799, it is noted that 'the temple has now disappeared,' suggesting it was abandoned at some point after the Imjin War. In modern times, in 1926, Monk Jeongyeom rebuilt the temple on the ruined site, but it was destroyed again during the Korean War. The current Yongsangsa Temple was rebuilt on a site slightly below the original location before the liberation, and the stone Buddha from Byeokjang Cave was enshrined in the main hall (Daeungjeon). In 1967, the main hall was reconstructed, and a Samseonggak (Three Saints Hall) was newly built to the west, leading to the present-day temple.

Address: 403, Yongsanggol-gil, Wollong-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do