Wongaksa Pagoda, Stone pagoda in Tapgol Park, Seoul, South Korea
Wongaksa Pagoda is a ten-story stone tower standing in Tapgol Park in the Jongno 2-ga neighborhood of Seoul, South Korea, rising to 12 meters (39 ft). Each story is covered in carved stone details, and the tower leans slightly, placing it among a handful of tilted pagodas in the country.
The pagoda was built in 1467 during the Joseon Dynasty on the grounds of Wongaksa temple, which was later torn down and replaced by government buildings. The Imjin War in the late 16th century left the structure badly damaged, particularly at the top.
Carved dragons and lotus flowers cover the stone surfaces at eye level, making details easy to observe as you walk around it. The park where it stands is a gathering spot for people from the neighborhood, so the monument is part of everyday life rather than a distant exhibit.
The pagoda sits inside Tapgol Park, which is an easy walk from Jongno 3-ga subway station. Because the structure is enclosed in glass for protection, walking around all sides gives the clearest view of the stone carvings.
The top of the pagoda was restored in 1947 by American military engineers, which is a rare case of foreign military involvement in Korean heritage repair. The work is still visible today and differs slightly in style from the older sections of the tower.
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