Im Gyeong-eop, seen as one of the greatest military commanders of the Joseon era, was born in a village near Dalcheongang River in Chungju.

The village is near the site of Tangeumdae Height, where one of the fiercest battles took place in 1594 during the Japanese Invasion of Korea. China’s Ming Dynasty had sent soldiers to help Joseon fight back the Japanese forces during that war, and Im maintained his loyalty to Ming throughout the rest of his life, even as Ming’s power in China began to decline in face of the rising Qing Dynasty

When Qing pressured Joseon to send troops to fight off Ming, Im instead led his forces to fight Qing on behalf of Ming. Qing’s emperor tried to win Im over by offering him a prominent government position, but he refused. He later died in Joseon under dubious charges of plotting treason.
Im’s honor was posthumously restored during the reign of Joseon’s King Yeongjo. Villagers in Chungju built a shrine near the site of his old house and held a memorial service to honor him. The dynasty issued a signboard named “Chungyeolsa,” which highlighted Im’s loyalty.

Location | 6 Chungnyeol 1-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
Foundation | 1697
Purpose | Memorial Service, Exhibition

The Battle of Tangeumdae was the first largescale field battle during the Japanese Invasion of Korea that began in 1592 and a devastating defeat for Joseon, which struggled mightily during the earlier part of the war that once saw its capital Hanseong captured by Japanese forces.

Tangeumdae Height was where Joseon General Sin Rip waged a desperate campaign to fight off hundreds of thousands of Japanese forces that were armed with more advanced weapons, including matchlock muskets. After defeat became apparent, Sin leaped to his death off the Yeoldudae cliff, refusing to surrender to the Japanese.

Location | 33 Tangeumdaean-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

Foundation | Mid-late 4th Century
Purpose | Military Facility

Hagangseowon Confucian Academy

At the Hagangseowon Confucian Academy, there’s a tablet honoring the legacy of “Modang” Hong I-sang, a prominent scholar and government official of the mid-Joseon period. Hong was one of the representative scholars of his time who was even picked to teach the king classic texts, including the “Five Classics on Confucianism.” His pen name, “Modang,” which means “missing my father,” reflects his filial piety.

Mohyeonjeong Pavilion is located on Sahyubong Peak, which looks over the Namhangang River near Hagangseowon. The pavilion was built by Hong’s descendants and local Confucian scholars to Hong and other famous intellectuals. The name of Mohyeon means “missing ancient sages.”

Location | 1455-54 Gimsaeng-ro, Geumga-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
Foundation | 1786
Purpose | Education, Memorial Service