Mireuksa Temple Site, Iksan
익산 미륵사지
The largest Baekje temple site, and one of the oldest and largest stone pagodas in East Asia. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Baekje Historic Areas.”
Mireuksa was built in the 7th century during the reign of King Mu of Baekje. It was one of the largest Buddhist temples in East Asia, with a distinctive layout of three pagodas and three golden halls. The surviving West Pagoda is the oldest and largest stone pagoda in South Korea and is a national treasure. It was dismantled and restored over about 20 years, and the work was completed in 2019. The nine-story stone pagoda on the east side was rebuilt in the 1990s. In 2015, the site was inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Baekje Historic Areas,” along with the Wanggungri site and others. Entry to the site is free. The Iksan National Museum next door displays excavated artifacts, including sarira reliquary ornaments. Admission is free, and the museum is closed on Mondays.
From Iksan Station, it takes about 20 minutes by taxi. Jeonju is about a 40-minute drive away.
Opening hours
Site open all day; museum 9:00 am–6:00 pm (closed Mondays)
Nearby sights
- Wanggung-ri Site, Iksan
- Deokjin Park
- Jeonju National Museum
- Jeonju Gaeksa (Pungpaejigwan)
- Pungnammun Gate
- Gyeonggijeon Shrine
- Jeonju Traditional Wine Museum
- Jeondong Catholic Cathedral