Built in the 11th century (during the reign of King Munjong), this pagoda stands on the original site of Manboksa Temple, which is said to have been established by the Buddhist Monk Doseon during the Goryeo Dynasty. The top part (above the fourth story) of the original pagoda is missing, leaving only a four-story structure. It is assumed that a wooden pagoda originally stood at the center of the temple site. The sites of numerous buildings and other relics were discovered here during seven excavation works conducted at the site between 1979 and 1985.
The stylobate was found buried under the earth - presumably due to subsidence around the pagoda. The core stone of the first story of the main body is very tall, while those above the second stories are one third as short as the first story one. The edges of the pagoda’s core stones are engraved with a pillar pattern. The upward curve along the bottom of the roof stone gives the pagoda the look of a wooden structure. A square stone is inserted into the roof stone to hold the core - a characteristic feature of the architectural style of that time.
A sarira reliquary was also found during the renovation of the pagoda in 1968.