CHEONGPUNG CULTURAL HERITAGE COMPLEX

Located on the upper reaches of the Namhangang River, Cheongpung is recognized as a center of prehistoric culture. Various Paleolithic era sites and dolmen ruins have been unearthed here, establishing it as a region at the forefront of past cultural exchange. As evidence, during the Three Kingdoms period, it became a battleground for territorial control among Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Numerous government fortress ruins in Jecheon reveal architectural styles of all three kingdoms, suggesting its importance amid the swirl of struggles for dominance in the central plains.

Furthermore, throughout the Goryeo and Joseon periods, commerce and culture flourished greatly through water transport. Building on this cultural exchange, the region produced several masters of the Chungcheong School of Neo-Confucianism. However, when the Chungju Multipurpose Dam construction began in 1978, creating submerged areas, those who lamented this loss gathered the various cultural assets from the area into one place, leading to the creation of the Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex.

Within the complex, two National Treasures (Hanbyeokru Pavilion, Seokjoyeraeipsang(Stone Standing Buddha Statue)), nine Provincial Tangible Cultural Properties (Palyeongru Pavilion, Geumnamru Pavilion, Geumbyeongheon Hall, Eungcheonggak Pavilion, Cheongpung Hyanggyo Confucian School, Four Old Houses), dolmen, stone tablets, steles, and over 2,000 daily artifacts have been relocated and restored to their original forms. This allows visitors to experience the history and culture of Cheongpung in the upper Namhangang River region, spanning from prehistoric times to the modern era, all in one place.

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Chungcheongbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage

Geumnamru Pavilion served as the main gate of the government office established by Governor Jo Gil-won of Cheongpung in the 25th year of King Sunjo's reign (1825). It was rebuilt by Governor Yi Jik-hyeon in the 7th year of King Gojong's reign (1870). Geumnamru Pavilion served as the gate to Cheongpung Elementary School in Eup-ri, Cheongpung-myeon, before being relocated to its current site in 1985 along with other government buildings during the construction of the Chungju Dam.

The first floor has three doors: the central door was used by the Cheongpungbusa(Governor of Cheongpung), while the side doors were for commoners. The second floor features a surrounding railing, enabling observation of distant enemy movements. The plaque inscribed by Jo Gil-won, ‘Doho-bu Jeolje A-mun’ (Governor's Office of the Protectorate), indicates this building was the main gate of the Protectorate's administrative office. This pavilion is the only structure where the characters for ‘Dohobu’ (Regional Administrative District) remain.

Cheongpungbusa(Governor of Cheongpung): In 1659 (the year King Hyeonjong ascended the throne), Cheongpung County was elevated from a ‘gun’ (county) to a ‘doho-bu’ (regional administrative district) because the ancestral home of Empress Myeongseong, Lady Kim, was in Cheongpung-myeon. A Cheongpungbusa(Provincial Governor) was then appointed as the head of the county.

Chungcheongbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage

Geumbyeongheon is a government office building constructed in 1681 (the 7th year of King Sukjong's reign) by Oh Do-il, the magistrate of Cheongpung. It served as the central building of the government office where assemblies were held and official duties were conducted. Originally named Myeongwoljeong, it was renamed Geumbyeongheon when Park Pil-mun, the magistrate of Cheongpung, rebuilt it in 1726 (the 2nd year of King Yeongjo's reign). The annex building, which served as a prison for detaining criminals, disappeared during the late Joseon period. It was relocated to its current site in 1983 during the construction of the Chungju Dam.

Located within the Jecheon Cultural Heritage Complex, the Jecheon Relics Exhibition Hall preserves and displays the history and living culture of the submerged area. The First Exhibition Hall and Second Exhibition Hall each feature distinct themes.

The first Exhibition Hall focuses on the life history and folk materials of the Jecheon area submerged by the construction of the Chungju Dam. It vividly conveys the lives and sorrows of the displaced residents through their daily tools, farming implements, clothing, and models of house structures. Visitors can feel more than just artifacts here—they can sense the memories and emotions of people who lost their hometown.

The second exhibition hall displays artifacts unearthed in the Jecheon area from the prehistoric and Three Kingdoms periods. Stone tools and pottery from the Paleolithic and Bronze Ages, materials related to dolmens, and traces of Three Kingdoms architectural styles and Buddhist culture demonstrate that Jecheon was a hub of cultural exchange in the past. This space holds high academic value for confirming Jecheon's historical stature, allowing visitors to experience the depth of the region's cultural heritage.

Constructed in a long, tunnel-like shape along the slopes of hills or mountains. It is a partitioned kiln built by layering clay to form rounded walls and ceilings, with each compartment featuring an entrance that also serves as a hearth.

Designed to reach temperatures exceeding 1,000°C, it was used for firing celadon, white porcelain, and Onggi(Korean traditional earthenware).

Chungcheongbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage

This house was an old dwelling in Doha-ri, Cheongpung-myeon. While the current living quarters form a ㄷ shape, traces of a -shaped building at the front suggest the original layout was an open ㅁ shape.

Typically, the two rooms on the east side are used as a single room by installing Jangjimun(sliding doors)* between them. However, this house has a wall erected between the rooms with a door fitted, a method only seen in very old houses. It was relocated to its current position during the construction of Chungju Dam.

*Jangjimun(sliding doors): A door fitted to partition off a space between rooms, or between a room and a floor area.

Chungcheongbuk-do Tangible Cultural Heritage

The Hwangseok-ri Old House is an old dwelling located in Hwangseok-ri, Cheongpung-myeon. It consists of three buildings: a thatched gatehouse, a single-line main house, and a tiled toilet. A small storage chest was placed in front of the kitchen on the left side of the main house, likely used for storing grains or food.

A distinctive feature is the three-bay room, designed to function as a single space by installing doors between the rooms. Though not large in scale, it offers insight into the appearance of a rural yangban (noble) residence during the Joseon Dynasty. It was relocated to its current site during the construction of the Chungju Dam.

There is a legend about the ox. In the beginning, the ox was chosen as the messenger between the Jade Emperor and the human world.

The Jade Emperor instructed the ox to tell humans, “Eat only once every three days.” However, the forgetful ox miscommunicated the order. “Eat three times a day,” it said. Because of this, humans had to work nine times harder just to fill their stomachs. Some might speak of the “joy of eating,” but for humans, this was the beginning of immense suffering.

It is said that because the ox caused such indescribable suffering, it works for humans until its death, and even after dying, it atones for its mistake by offering everything from its meat to its hide.

1614 (6th year of King Gwanghaegun's reign) ~ 1685 (11th year of King Sukjong's reign)

Kim Jung-myeong, of the Cheongpung Kim clan, had the courtesy name Ihoe. His father, Kim Jeon, held an official post during the Manchu invasion of 1636. While hastening to Namhansanseong Fortress to report to the king, he encountered enemy forces, fought valiantly, and was killed in action. He was posthumously awarded the title of Deputy-Minister of Taxation. At that time, Jung-myeong carried his father's body to Geumchon in Yangju and buried him there.

He passed the military service examination in the Eulyu year of King Injo's reign and was selected as a military officer. After passing the examination, while visiting his ancestors' graves, he encountered a large tiger lurking behind the tomb. His attendants were terrified and dared not advance. Jung-myeong dismounted, shouted loudly, charged straight ahead, and kicked the beast to death. Everyone present marveled at his bravery.

When King Hyojong summoned him to test his strength, Jung-myeong carried three sacks of sand and soil—one under each armpit and one on his back—walking from outside the palace gates all the way to the royal chambers. The king was greatly impressed. From then on, his favor grew daily until he was appointed Military Governor. When King Hyojong passed away in the Gihae year, Jungmyeong stroked his forearm and cried out, “My time is over!” He then retired to live as a hermit in Cheongpung County, where he eventually passed away.

Source: 『Maesanjip(A Study on the Composition of Manuscript Collection)』 - Posthumous Collection of Hong Jikpil (1776-1852), a Joseon Scholar

Dolmens are a type of prehistoric megalithic culture, a burial style consisting of massive stones placed atop an above-ground or underground burial chamber. While forms vary slightly by region, they generally feature a table-like shape with a capstone resting on supporting stones.

This group of dolmens is a southern-style dolmen relocated from the Hwangseok-ri area of Cheongpung-myeon, which was submerged due to the construction of the Chungju Dam. Notably, the dolmen placed in the center is unique because it is engraved with a cup-mark (seonghyeol) that appears to represent a constellation in the sky.

Among the many dolmens nationwide, those displaying constellations are relatively uncommon. While weathering over approximately 2,500 years has eroded most constellations beyond recognition, the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and the North Star (Ursa Minor) remain distinctly visible.

This cup-mark appears to have been engraved to pray for the eternal life of the buried person. Judging by the constellations' positions, it is presumed to have been constructed around April to May of that year.

A stone Standing Buddha statue refers to a standing Buddha image carved from stone. The Jecheon Multaeri Seokjoyeraeipsang(Stone Standing Buddha Statue) is a massive, pillar-like Buddha image. Its broad shoulders, reminiscent of statues from the late Unified Silla period, formalized neck folds, and non-realistic hands reveal characteristics typical of works from the early Goryeo Dynasty, around the 10th century.

The Buddha's feet are carved on an octagonal pedestal engraved with lotus flowers, sharing similar techniques with the Treasure-designated Seokjoyeraeipsang(Stone Standing Buddha Statue) of the Buddha in Eupnae-ri, Cheongyang. Originally located in Eup-ri, Cheongpung-myeon, it was relocated to the Cheongpung Cultural Heritage Complex in 1985 when the village was submerged during the construction of the Chungju Dam.