Wolchulsan, Where National Rites Were Held, Designated a Scenic Site

Yeongam's "Wolchulsan Area" Designated a National Scenic Site
Recognized as a Complex Mountain Cultural Landscape Shaped by Its Granite Terrain

Wolchulsan, where national rites, Buddhist culture, poetry, and historical records have accumulated amid a granite mountain landscape, has been recognized for its value as a complex mountain cultural landscape. The Korea Heritage Service announced on October 16 that it had designated the “Wolchulsan Area” in Yeongam County, Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City, as a nationally designated natural heritage site, Scenic Site.

Snow-Covered Yeongam Wolchulsan Mountain

Wolchulsan was first recorded in the Samguk Sagi under the name “Wollaak” in Wolna-gun. National rites were held at Cheonhwangbong Peak from the Unified Silla period, and the mountain became a center of Buddhist culture in the southwestern region from the Goryeo through the Joseon Dynasty.

Muwisa Temple, located on the mountain, preserves the traditions of Seon Buddhist temples, as well as Geungnakbojeon Hall and murals built with royal support in the early Joseon Dynasty. These features harmonize with the gentle slopes to the south and the temple’s location overlooking the plains. Another temple, Dogapsa, was founded by the monk Doseon during the Unified Silla period. Related records, royal patronage, and numerous cultural heritage assets attest to the relationship between royal Buddhism and local temples.

The landscape, in which forests, rock formations, and cultural heritage sites appear one after another along the valley, matches descriptions recorded in Goryeo- and Joseon-era sources. In this respect, Wolchulsan can be seen as a renowned mountain that contributed to shaping local identity over a long period.

Geologically, it is an isolated granite massif that rises steeply from the plains. Various types of granite dating from the Precambrian to the Cretaceous are found here, with distinctive dome-shaped peaks and fortress-like ridges. The mountain also has high ecological value, with insectivorous plants growing in the area.

The view of Wolchulsan from Sajabong is, in a word, otherworldly. After crossing the famous suspension bridge, the Yeongam plains unfold in full view beyond rugged rock formations that seem to flex their muscles.

The landscape is characterized by a striking contrast between the plains and rocky peaks. The sharp skyline running northeast to southwest, along with the rugged cliffs of Cheonhwangbong and Gujeongbong, affords outstanding views. Depending on the direction and distance, the scenery can be viewed in the far distance (skyline), middle distance (cliffs and valleys), and foreground (details of rock formations).

Wolchulsan is also important from the perspectives of human geography and folklore. It has been known by various names over the centuries, and travel accounts and poetic records reveal changing perceptions of the mountain and experiences of its terrain from ancient times through the modern era. In particular, Gujeongbong has nine wells, and various beliefs and folktales related to the terrain have been passed down.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.