Anseong City to Reassess the Heritage Value of 'Bongeopsa Site'

Academic Conference Held at Anseong Central Library on the 7th

Anseong City in Gyeonggi Province recently held an academic conference to reexamine the value of 'Anseong Bong-eopsa Site,' which was designated as a nationally recognized cultural heritage site.

Anseong City and the Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 4th that they will hold the 'Anseong Bong-eopsa Site National Heritage Site Designation Commemorative Academic Conference' at the Anseong Central Library on the 7th.

Bong-eopsa Temple in Juksan-ri, Juksan-myeon, Anseong, is known from historical records such as the "Goryeosa" as a main hall temple enshrining the royal portrait of King Taejo Wang Geon. In 1966, a bronze incense burner and a bronze drum inscribed with the characters 'Bong-eopsa (奉業寺)' were first discovered around the five-story stone pagoda. Since then, based on academic achievements such as confirming the main hall area through six excavation surveys from 1997 to 2024, it was designated as a nationally recognized cultural heritage site in June.

Many roof tiles inscribed with the production period (Goryeo King Gwangjong era) were excavated from the main hall area, and several flatland temples such as Juksan-ri Site, Jangmyeongsa Site, and Maegok-ri Site, presumed to have been established around the same period, are densely located nearby. Considering that government offices and temples were the most central public buildings at the time, it is possible to infer the urban landscape structure and political status of the Jukju (竹州) area, the name referring to the Juksan region where Anseong Bong-eopsa Site was located during the Goryeo period.

The academic conference will feature presentations on ▲the significance of Buddhist cultural heritage ▲archaeological achievements and implications ▲the nature and meaning of excavated Buddhist crafts. Additionally, presentations on ▲the historical status of Anseong Bong-eopsa Site through stone sculpture ▲the archetype of Goryeo-era town temples, Anseong Bong-eopsa Site ▲exploring the heritage value and future vision of Anseong Bong-eopsa Site are also scheduled.

The event will include a comprehensive discussion chaired by Professor Kim Gil-sik of Yongin University. The academic conference is open to anyone who registers on-site and can participate freely.

An official from Anseong City stated, "We hope that this academic conference will help more citizens correctly understand the value of national heritage and empathize with the need for systematic preservation and utilization." They added, "We plan to establish a comprehensive maintenance plan to systematically preserve, manage, and utilize the Anseong Bong-eopsa Site."