Three-story Stone Pagoda in Ha-ri, Yeoju

A pagoda is a symbolic monument enshrining the relics or remains of the Buddha. Although not all pagodas contain the true remains, they are nonetheless worshiped as sacred places that enshrine the Buddha.

This pagoda is presumed to date to the Goryeo period (918-1392). It was originally located at a Buddhist temple site in Ha-ri (today’s Ha-dong area), but it was moved to its current location at Yeongwol Park in 1958.

The pagoda is composed of a two-tier base and three sets of body and roof stones. The base was constructed of four stone plates and a capstone. The corners of the base were carved to look like pillars. In the center of the capstone, there is an elevated two-tier section atop which the first-story body stone was placed.

Each body section and roof section are made of separate stones. The corners of the body stones are carved in relief to look like pillars. The first-story body stone is taller than it is wide, making the overall design of the pagoda appear elongated. The undersides of the roof stones are carved into four tiers. The roof stones’ have very gradual slopes with slightly upturned corners.

Inbetween the first-story body and roof stones, there is a space for enshrining Buddhist relics. Normally, such a space is made by creating a deep hole or holes in the center of the body stone and placing the roof stone on top. However, in this pagoda, two matching holes were made both in the roof stone and the body stone, with a thin 3cm-tall rim around the holes on the body stone to secure the stones together.

Source: Korea Heritage Service signboard ↗ · collected 2026-10-08