Suseongdang Shrine

About this place

Suseongdang is a village shrine located in Gyeokpo-ri, Byeonsan-myeon, Buan-gun. It is the only remaining communal place of worship on the coastal villages of this area — a single-room tile-roofed building of about 13 square meters. The shrine enshrines Gaeyanghalmae (the Grandmother of the Sea) and her eight daughters, the guardian deities of the Chilsan Sea. A village ritual (dangsanje) is held every year on the 14th day of the first lunar month. Gaeyanghalmae is a sea goddess of enormous stature who, wearing wooden clogs, walked across the West Sea to fill in dangerous shallows and calm storms, protecting fishermen and passing ships. During excavations in 1992, artifacts were discovered from the late 3rd century to the early 7th century — spanning Baekje, Gaya, Unified Silla, Joseon, as well as ancient China and Japan — confirming that people from various countries participated in rituals here and buried ritual implements and goods after the ceremonies. The shrine is surrounded by the scenic Jeokbyeokgang and Chaeseokgang cliffs, accessible along the West Sea Trail and the Buan Masil Trail.