The main hall (Daeungjeon) of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju has been found to have sustained significant damage requiring dismantling repair, with renovation work scheduled to begin this year.
According to the Cultural Heritage Administration on the 23rd, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage reported these findings in its "2025 Priority Cultural Heritage Monitoring Results" at a recent Architecture Cultural Heritage Subcommittee meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee.
The institute has been inspecting major cultural heritage sites including National Treasures and Treasures since 2015. Each year, it designates 20 to 30 priority sites for inspection, evaluating structural safety, conservation science, and biological damage. Sites are graded as "Good" (A), "Minor Repair" (B), "Watch" (C), "Detailed Diagnosis" (D), "Repair" (E), or "Emergency Action" (F).
Last year's inspection of 24 sites—13 National Treasures and 11 Treasures—found three requiring repair (Grade E): Bulguksa Temple's Daeungjeon (Treasure), Nangwondaesatapbi Stele at Bohyeonsa Temple in Gangneung (Treasure), and the Seven-Story Brick Pagoda at Beopheungsa Temple Site in Andong (National Treasure). The remaining 21 sites received Grade C, requiring careful observation.
Bulguksa Temple's Daeungjeon drew the most attention. The building was reconstructed in 1765 during King Yeongjo's reign in the Joseon Dynasty, though its foundation stones and platform are believed to preserve their original Silla-era form. The Seokgatap and Dabotap pagodas, built during the Unified Silla period, stand before the hall, making Daeungjeon a must-visit destination for temple visitors.
The report revealed damage throughout the hall. A 2023 inspection had already identified breakage and sagging across major structural members, with cracks found in wooden components. In February last year, part of the banja—a structure that flattens the ceiling—collapsed.
"The damage appears connected to previously identified deterioration in the main beams and ridge beams, requiring dismantling repair," the institute explained. "Dismantling repair is scheduled for this year."
The Nangwondaesa (834-930) memorial stele at Bohyeonsa Temple in Gangneung was also diagnosed as needing dismantling repair due to tilting and cracks penetrating through the stone body. Repair work is planned for this year to prevent further deformation.
The Seven-Story Brick Pagoda at Beopheungsa Temple Site in Andong—one of the largest and oldest brick pagodas remaining in Korea—received Grade E for the fifth consecutive year. Japanese colonial authorities laid Central Line railway tracks around the pagoda in the 1940s, and trains passed by for decades. After the tracks were removed in 2021, the pagoda tilted approximately 35 millimeters to the northwest.
"There has been no recent structural displacement and the condition is stable," the institute noted, adding that "conservation treatment is needed for cracks and damage in roof tiles and deteriorated cement mortar on the platform."
The institute plans to notify relevant departments and local governments of the monitoring results next month, with a full report to be published around June. This year, 25 cultural heritage sites will undergo priority inspection, including 13 National Treasures and 12 Treasures. New additions to the inspection list include the Nangwondaesa Stupa at Bohyeonsa Temple in Gangneung, Daeungjeon Hall at Gapsa Temple in Gongju, and Chuwondang Shrine of the Haenam Yun Clan in Gangjin, alongside sites such as Seoul's Sungnyemun Gate, Cheomseongdae Observatory in Gyeongju, and Geunjeongjeon Hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace.