* A place that touches the sky, Haneuljae *
There is a small path to the left just past the three-story stone pagoda of Mireuk-ri, Woraksan Mountain. This road, which faces the charming scenery of red pine trees, oak trees, and sea pine trees in the distance, and opens up a cool breeze under a clear sky, is called 'Haneuljae'. The ditch running down the left side of the road sometimes looks dry due to drought. Although it may be visible, travelers are greeted by the surrounding strangely shaped cliff peaks and roadside wild flowers such as deep pink waterbucks, dark purple succulents, and yellow straw soursop.
Haneuljae (525m above sea level) was named because it touches the sky at first glance. It is not as high as the name suggests. It is a provincial border connecting Mireuk-ri, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si, North Chungcheong Province, and Gwaneum-ri, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. A 30-40 minute walk (2km) from Mireuk-ri leads directly to Gwaneum-ri, Mungyeong. The bumpy unpaved road reaches the ridge of Haneuljae and continues onto a straight asphalt road, and to the west, the summit of Daemi Mountain (1,115m above sea level) in Mungyeong comes into view.
In addition, Jungwon Mireuk-ri Temple below Haneuljae is believed to have been built in the late Silla or early Goryeo period. It is an old temple site, and you can guess that it was very large just from the traces of the pillars and corridors. It is the only temple in Korea that faces north and is located in Mireuk-ri, a basin between Jireupjae and Haneuljae. All of the wooden buildings of Jungwon Mireuk-ri Temple were destroyed by the invasion of the Mongolian army in the 13th century. Currently, the five-story stone pagoda (treasure), the standing stone Buddha statue (treasure), the stone lantern (local tangible cultural property), and the three-story stone pagoda (local cultural property) remain. Jungwon Mireuk-ri Temple was discovered to be the 'Mireukdaewon' where Monk Ilyeon lived through excavations conducted twice by the Cheongju University Museum in 1977 and 1979.

* History of Haneuljae as a strategic location *
Haneuljae, also called Gyeoreubsan Mountain, Gyeripryeong Mountain, and Daewonyeong Mountain, is the first mountain pass opened in our country. King Adala (阿達羅), the 8th king of Silla, opened the way for the northern advance in the third year of his reign (156). Haneuljae, which opened several years before Juknyeong, is a geographically important point that can extend all the way to the lower reaches of the Han River using the water transport of the Namhan River. Silla early advanced to the Han River using Haneuljae as a bridgehead, and blocked the southward advance of Baekje and Goguryeo.
Because it was such an important strategic base, Haneuljae was also a place where wars continued. Ondal and Yeon Gaesomun of Goguryeo continuously attempted war to regain Haneuljae, and King Gongmin also used this road during the 'Red Turban Rebellion' of the Goryeo Dynasty. It is said that Prince Maui and his sister Princess Deokju, bearing resentment over the fall of Silla, crossed this hill with tears of blood in their eyes as they headed to Mt. Geumgang. However, in the 14th year of King Taejong of the Joseon Dynasty (1414), with the opening of Joryeong-ro, the current Mungyeong Saejae, Haneuljae handed over all of its strategic military sites and strongholds in all directions to Joryeong.
The Woraksan National Park Management Office is trying to revive the history of Haneuljae. For this purpose, a 1.5km section of the hill will be created as a ‘history and ecological observation road.’ This road, currently known as Haneuljae, was newly opened as a farm road in the 1970s, and the trail beyond the ditch is the real Haneuljae. We also plan to explain the history of Wolaksan Mountain by directly viewing its natural ecology, and install cultural heritage boards to explain the surrounding cultural relics. Haneuljae, which was selected as one of the 10 best natural environment attractions in Chungcheongbuk-do by Chungcheongbuk-do, is regaining its old appearance.