**Iksan Mireuksaji Digital Restoration Information Center: Recreating ‘Three Pagodas, Three Main Halls’ Through Augmented Reality**
World Heritage Iksan Mireuksaji is being brought back to life using advanced technology.
The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, under the Cultural Heritage Administration, announced on the 17th that it will operate the ‘Mireuksaji Digital Restoration Experience Information Center’ at the Iksan Mireuksaji site in Jeollabuk-do until February 8 next year. Visitors can directly see and experience the digitally restored Mireuksaji main gates (East, Central, and West Gates) using augmented reality (AR) technology.
Mireuksaji, established in the 7th century during the reign of King Mu of Baekje, was built to pray for the peace of the royal family and the salvation of all beings. Currently, only the National Treasure ‘Iksan Mireuksaji Stone Pagoda’ remains. It is known that back then, Mireuksaji had a structure of three pagodas and main halls and an arrangement of monastic quarters and lecture halls aligned east to west.
Based on historical research conducted since 2008, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage has digitally restored the East and West Main Gates as single-story structures, and the Central Main Gate as a two-story structure. The Central Main Gate incorporates two architectural styles: ‘pyeonggongpo’, a general construction method using intercrossed components, and ‘haang’, a sloped support structure primarily used in Baekje architecture.
Participants can experience the digitally rendered Mireuksaji main gates and watch animations of the restoration process using a tablet PC or smart glasses. They can also take photos with the AR Mireuksaji background and receive them via email.
The experience program runs six times a day from Tuesday to Sunday, free of charge. Up to thirty people can participate per session, and registration can be done on-site or via the Naver ‘Mireuksaji Digital Restoration Experience Information Center’ reservation website.
A representative from the research institute stated, “Starting with the restoration of the Mireuksaji main gates, we will continue to expand K-digital content that combines advanced technology with national heritage.”