Wongaksa Pagoda, Stone pagoda in Tapgol Park, Seoul, South Korea
Wongaksa Pagoda is a ten-story stone structure in Tapgol Park standing 12 meters tall with elaborate carvings on each level. The structure displays carefully sculpted details including bracket systems and curved lines, all carved entirely from stone.
The pagoda was built in 1467 during the Joseon Dynasty on the grounds of the former Wongaksa temple, which was later converted to government buildings. After suffering destruction during the Imjin War, it received restoration work in the early 1950s.
The pagoda displays the craftsmanship of Korean stone carving, visible in the intricate details of dragons and lotus flowers carved throughout. It stands as a reminder of Seoul's Buddhist past, drawing people who want to connect with the city's earlier heritage.
Access is straightforward through Jongno 3-ga Station on subway lines 1, 3, and 5 in the area. The site sits in a public park where visitors can walk freely and view the structure from different angles.
The pagoda's top was damaged during the Imjin War and later restored by American military engineers in 1947 in an unusual intervention. This reconstruction work left the monument with a mixed history of conflict and international repair.
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