Culture & Tourism
Shrine of Jeong Song-gang in Jincheon
- Shrine of Jeong Song-gang in Jincheon
- 523, Songgang-ro, Munbaek-myeon, Jincheon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, 27869, Republic of Korea
- Designated : Historical site No. 9 (December 21, 1976)
- Period : The 6th year of the reign of King Hyeonjong in the Joseon Dynasty / Was reconstructed over the period from 1979 to 1981.
- Size : Shrine[62.8 m2 (19 pyeong)], Museum[106m2(32 Pyeong)]
- Material : Wood
The Shrine of Jeong Song-gang in Jincheon is the local monument No. 9 as the shrine where a tablet of Songgang Jeongcheol has been set up.
Jeongcheol was a politician and the first vice-premier in the Joseon Dynasty. He served as a secret royal inspector in Hamgyeong-do after becoming Jipyeong as he won the first place in state examinations (Jinsa and Byeolsimnugwan) in the 16th year of the reign of King Myeongjong and also worked as a writer with Kim Inhu. He received special favors of Sagadokseo with Yulgok.
He brought the king to Euju during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592 and strived to overcome the national crisis after being appointed as Chaechalsa. While he was working as governor in Gangwon-do, Jeolla-do, and Hampgyeong-do, he wrote Gwangdongbyeolgok and Humninga, which stand testimony to his literary attainments. After retiring to the country, he penned many lyrics and songs including Samiingok and Sokmiingok.
The grave of Songgang was originally located in Sinwon-ri, Wondang-myeong in Goyang-gun. U-am Song Siyeol designated the current site of the grave in the 6th year of King Hyeonjong (1665) and Jeong Yang, a descendant of Song gang, moved the grave and established the shrine, which went through a full-scale renovation in 1979 because it was too small.
Made of wood, the shrine is 62.8㎡-large and features a Korean traditional sloping roof. There is also a museum containing various relics. The graves of Songgang and Sindobi are placed within the temple precincts and silver cups, jade cups, the diary and letters of Songgang are also on display.
As you walk about 300m, you can find a narrow path densely covered with lush grass on the left of Songgangsa that was designated as Local Monument No. 9 in 1976.
Source : Jincheon-gun Magazine