Baegunam Hermitage in Chungju is said to have been founded in 1886 by a female shaman named Yun, who was given the title Lord of Jillyeong by the government of the Joseon Dynasty. The principal statue of the hermitage, this Iron Seated Buddha is assumed to have been moved here from the nearby ruins of Eokjeongsa, a large temple of the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). The Buddha has a gentle face. It is dressed in a robe draped over the left shoulder and seated cross-legged with a mudra touching the earth to call it to witness his awakening, a style reminiscent of the main Buddha in Seokguram Grotto that became popular after the eighth century in Unified Silla (676-935). With a height of 87cm, the image has a rather small but stern, clearly carved face and three creases around the neck. It has broad shoulders and a plump chest with the knees spread wide in a stable pose. The body is voluminous overall, though not so corpulent as most eighth-century images. But the large wavy folds on the robe are similar to those on eighth-century images. The mudra, however, is not the typical earth-touching gesture. Therefore, the image is assumed to have been carved between the late Unified Silla and early Goryeo Dynasty. This is the oldest among three famous iron Buddhas handed down in the Chungju area, traditionally famous for rich iron production. The other two images are at Daewonsa and Danhosa Temples, and have been designated Treasure No. 98 and No. 512, respectively. The present statue shows a skillful carving style and no major damage.