Pihyangjeong Pavilion, Jeongeup

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful historical garden pavilions remaining in the Honam region, Pihyangjeong Pavilion once had two exquisite lotus ponds -- Sangyeonji and Hayeonji -- in its front and back, but only one, Hayeonji, remains today with the other filled up during the colonial period (1910-1945). The name Pihyangjeong (lit. “pavilion with spreading fragrance”) came from the fragrance of lotus growing in the ponds filling the area when they are in full bloom. The pavilion is also known to have been connected with Choe Chi-won, a renowned scholar-official of Unified Silla who briefly served as the administrative head of the area during the reign of King Jeonggang (r. 886-887). The current pavilion was built in 1716 by Yu Geun, then prefectural administrator of Jeongeup.

The building features a five-bay by four-bay structure with hip-and-gable roof having double eaves and 28 round wooden columns set up on round stone foundations. The building is also characterized by the exposed-rafter ceiling combined with coffered ceiling. The pavilion still attracts numerous visitors, with the spectacle created by the pavilion forming great harmony with its natural surroundings.

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