Silleuksa Temple神勒寺

Silleuksa Temple is a representative temple of Yeoju, located at the foot of Bongmisan Mountain. It boasts a long history, magnificent scale, and outstanding scenery. It is a branch temple of Yongjusa Temple, the head temple of the 2nd district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and has been designated as a traditional temple of Gyeonggi-do. While temples are generally built in the mountains, it was unusually built on the riverside overlooking the Namhan River. It is said that Great Master Wonhyo founded it during the reign of King Jinpyeong of Silla, but there is no definite evidence. It is famous as a place where National Preceptor Naong stayed during the late Goryeo period and is said to have been a large temple with over 200 bays. In the 3rd year of King Seongjong of Joseon (1472), it was designated as a memorial temple for Yeongneung, the royal tomb of King Sejong the Great, and was called Boeunsa Temple (報恩寺), but after its significance as a memorial temple waned, it returned to its original name, Silleuksa Temple. Because it has a multi-story brick pagoda, it was also called Byeokjeol (Brick Temple). It takes approximately 13 minutes by car from Yeoju IC and Seoyeoju IC. The area around Silleuksa Temple has been developed into a national tourist destination, with many popular restaurants nearby, and it is also close to Yeoju Dojasesang (Yeoju Ceramic World), which houses the largest ceramic specialty shopping mall in Korea, and Hwangpo Sailboat cruises.