Academic Conference on “Research Outcomes and Future Directions for the Restoration of the Junggeumdang Hall
(Main Hall) of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju”
- Sharing research outcomes in architecture, digital content, and other fields related to
the “Junggeumdang Hall” of the largest temple from the Silla period
(August 13, 2025, Lahan Select Gyeongju)
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH; Director General Lim Jong-Deock), under the Korea Heritage Service, will host an academic conference titled “Research Outcomes and Future Directions for the Restoration of the Junggeumdang Hall (Main Hall) of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju” at 1 p.m. on August 13, 2025, in the Dynasty Hall of Lahan Select Gyeongju (Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do).
The Hwangnyongsa Temple Site in Gyeongju is a historic site that symbolizes the splendid Buddhist culture of Silla. As the largest temple site from the Silla period, it features a layout in which the central gate, a nine-story wooden pagoda, the Junggeumdang Hall, and the lecture hall are aligned along a central axis. In particular, the Junggeumdang Hall, constructed in 584 to enshrine 19 Buddhist statues including the Jangnyukjonsang (a 16-foot Buddha statue), served as a representative Buddhist hall of Silla.
The upcoming conference will serve as a venue to share accumulated research findings on the Junggeumdang Hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju and to discuss future research directions, with the goal of laying the foundation for the site’s systematic restoration and maintenance.
The conference will feature five presentations across a range of fields, including architecture, Buddhist statues, wajeon,* and digital content, followed by a comprehensive panel discussion with experts.
*Wajeon: a term that collectively refers to traditional roof tiles and bricks
Five presentations will be given to share comprehensive research findings and discuss future research directions related to the Junggeumdang Hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju:
- “An Architectural Study of the Junggeumdang Hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple”
(Lee Sang Myeong, NRICH)
- “A Review of the Architectural Significance of the Junggeumdang Hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple” (Kang Hyun, NRICH)
- “A Historical Study of the Buddhist Statues in the Junggeumdang Hall of Hwangnyongsa Temple” (Joo Soo-Wan, Woosuk University)
- “A Historical Study on the Use of Wajeon at Hwangnyongsa Temple”
(Choi Yeong Hee, Gangneung-Wonju National University)
- “Strategies for Utilizing Digital Content Related to Hwangnyongsa Temple”
(Kwon Heung Soon, NRICH)
A panel discussion will follow the presentations. Chaired by Professor Emeritus Jang Hun Duk (Korea National University of Cultural Heritage), the session will bring together the presenters and experts in architecture, Buddhist statues, wajeon, and digital content, including Baik So-Hun (Myongji University), Cho Weon Chang (National Cultural Heritage Research Foundation), Choi Sun-Ah (Myongji University), Jeong Yeo-Seon (Seoul National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage), and Lee Ji-Hyung (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute), for an in-depth discussion from multiple perspectives.
The conference is open to the public with on-site registration available on the day of the event. It will also be livestreamed on the NRICH YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/@nrichstory).
Through this conference, the NRICH, under the Korea Heritage Service, hopes to expand academic exchange with experts in the field of ancient heritage and to share research outcomes with the public. The institute also plans to continue in-depth investigations and research to ensure the systematic and authentic restoration of Hwangnyongsa Temple in Gyeongju.
Attachment: 1. Promotional materials
2. Conference schedule. End.