Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin

The Hidden Charms of Cheonggye Plaza Cheonggye Plaza is a popular relaxation spot frequently visited by both Korean and foreign tourists, as well as office workers from the nearby office buildings. Upon entering the plaza, your attention is immediately drawn to a tall red and blue sculpture that looks like a conical shell. This artwork is known as 'The Spring,’ created by American pop artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The artists have explained that their inspiration for this piece came from the unique beauty of Korean ceramics, traditional clothing, and the full moon. If you look inside ‘The Spring,’ you will notice a gentle stream of water trickling from the top of the sculpture to the bottom, before flowing into a curved groove that leads into the Cheonggyecheon Stream. The groove serves as a 1/100 scale model of the actual stream. As you face the Cheonggyecheon Stream from the plaza, you'll see a staircase on the left that descends to the stream. Would you like to go downstairs for a closer look at the Cheonggyecheon Stream?

Walking Downstairs from Cheonggye Plaza The Cheonggyecheon Stream is a man-made waterway. It was constructed around the time of the founding of the Joseon Dynasty to function as a drainage system for the city. However, during the Japanese Occupation of Korea, the Japanese government attempted to remove the stream by filling it with concrete due to concerns about its water quality. The stream was completely filled with concrete in the 1970s, several decades after Korea’s liberation from Japan, as part of the construction of the Cheonggye Overpass. In 2003, the Seoul Metropolitan Government embarked on a project to restore the stream to its present state. When you walk downstairs from the Cheonggye Plaza, you will see a two-tiered waterfall, which marks the starting point of the stream. Directly below the waterfall, you’ll notice eight substantial stone slabs brought in from various regions of the country. Each of these slabs represents a former province of Korea before the division into North and South, symbolizing a hope for unification. All the slabs are made from rocks that are indigenous to the particular provinces they represent, with the exception of those representing provinces in North Korea. Stonemasons took great care to select slabs that best resembled those from North Korea. There is no doubt that most people, recognizing the significance of these stones, hope that these existing slabs will one day be replaced with genuine ones from North Korea after unification. The rocks are collectively known as ‘Palseokdam’, which simply means ‘a pond of eight rocks’ in Korean. A few meters downstream from these stones, you will come across a saucer-shaped granite sculpture with a hole in the middle. This serves as a wishing well where people can toss coins into the central hole to make wishes. Don't worry if you miss the target; all the coins in the well are collected and donated to those in need. Throughout the year, various festivals are held at Cheonggye Plaza and Cheonggyecheon Stream, making it a highly recommended destination if you are interested in learning about Korea’s history and having unique experience.

Jogyesa, the central temple of Korean Buddhism was originally built in the late 14th century, during the Goryeo Dynasty but was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt since 1910 by a group of Buddhist monks. The ‘iljumun, or 'One Pillar Gate’, is the first thing you’ll see but without any doors. The gate is designed to remind visitors to leave all their worldly worries behind when entering a temple. Adjacent to the white pine tree, there's a statue of Buddha with an innocent smile, making visitors feel at home. The 'Daeungjeon' building is located right in the middle of the temple site. Daeungjeon Hall is the most important, largest, and significant building in Korean temples. The word ‘Daeungjeon’ means ‘the hall of a hero’ or more precisely, ‘the hall enshrining the statue of Sakyamuni.’ Many people visit to pray and see the mural depicting the life of Buddha adorning the wall of the Daeungjeon building, the Buddhist Bell of Jogyesa Temple, and the Central Buddhist Museum. In the front yard of Daeungjeon, you’ll see a ten-story octagonal stupa containing Buddhist relics. It was built in 2009 to replace the old Japanese-style pagoda after the Buddhist relics were brought here from Sri Lanka. If you enter the Daeungjeon Hall, please remain quiet and respectful of the Buddhists and monks praying and meditating. Moreover, Jogyesa Temple offers a temple-stay program for people to ease both their bodies and minds. The Buddhist shop sells interesting Buddhist goods and souvenirs. Right across from Jogyesa Temple, you’ll find the Temple Stay Information Center where you can find all the information you need about staying at any of the Korean Buddhist temples. If you feel the need to relax and soothe your mind, Jogyesa Temple might just be the place for you.

A stone pagoda containing Buddha’s relics can be found in the front yard, entrance, or back yard of a temple. The stone pagoda at Jogyesa Temple contains Buddha’s relics given to the temple by a Sri Lankan monk called Dharmapala in 1913, who was impressed by Korean Buddhism. He expressed this wish: “Let the people in Joseon of the East attain enlightenment.” The pagoda was constructed in October 2009 to eliminate the three poisonous elements of greed, hatred, and illusion, which are the sources of pain and suffering for all living beings. The absence of these elements allows people to awaken to the truth, achieve enlightenment, and eventually enter the world of nirvana. Therefore, the eight sides symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path, explaining the eight ways to achieve enlightenment. The ten stories represent the ten good deeds against the ten evil acts committed by the body, tongue, and mind. The outer parts are adorned with eight Buddha images, eight bodhisattvas, and eight divine guardians. Inside, a collection of about 14,000 small Buddha statues, part of the relics of Sakyamuni Buddha given by Venerable Dharmapala, is enshrined. Additionally, it houses one set of the seven books of the Lotus Sutra, printed by woodblocks at Ssanggyesa Temple in 1660. Together with the relic pagoda, this monument summarizes the history of the religion, from the establishment movement of the chief temple of Korean Buddhism to the recent history of the Jogye Order and Jogyesa over the last eighty years. By observing the pagoda, one can gain insight into the history of Korean Buddhism.