Bongeunsa Temple 봉은사: A Serene Oasis in Seoul

📍531, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로 531
🚆 Bongeunsa Station Line 9, Exit 1
🕒 Open all year round
₩  Free to enter
🌐 www.bongeunsa.org | www.templestay.com 
☎️ +82 2-3218-4800
✍🏻 Nearby attractions include K-star Road, Coex, and Apgujeong Rodeo Street.

Seoul, with its vibrant energy and countless attractions, can sometimes overwhelm. However, for those seeking a reprieve from the city’s hustle and bustle, Bongeunsa Temple offers a tranquil retreat. Far from just a typical temple, Bongeunsa is a thriving hub of Buddhist culture, offering a temple stay program designed to restore and rejuvenate weary souls. Let’s explore why Bongeunsa is such a cherished gem in the heart of Seoul.

How to get to Bongeunsa Temple

Address: 531, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로 531

By Subway

• Line 9 (Golden Line): Disembark at Bongeunsa Station, then take Exit 1. It’s only around 100 meters (109 yards) away on your right.
• Line 2 (Green Line): Get off at Samsung Station, then take Exit 4. Walk approximately 600 meters (0.3 miles/656 yards) toward your left, and you’ll find Bongeunsa Temple.
• Line 7 (Olive Green Line): Alight at Cheongdam Station, then take Exit 2. Walk around 800 meters (0.4 miles/874 yards) toward your right to reach Bongeunsa Temple. 

By Bus

If you prefer taking the bus, several nearby stops serve different routes. These include COEX North Gate Station, Bongeunsa ASEM Center Station, COEX Intercontinental Station, and Samsung 1 Pachoolso Station. Depending on your location, you can board buses such as Blue Buses 143, 146, 301, 351, 401, and N61; Green Buses 2413, 2415, 3011, 3217, 3411, 3412, 3414, 3417, 3426, 4318, and 4419; or Red Buses 9407, 9414, 9507, and 9607.

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About Bongeunsa Temple

Bongeunsa Temple, once known as Gyeonseongsa Temple, is located north of COEX in Seoul, South Korea. It was built in the 10th year of Silla King Weongseong’s reign in 794 AD. Queen Jeonghyeon refurbished and renamed it Bongeunsa Temple in 1498. 

It was originally situated near the Royal Tomb of King Seongjong and later moved during Joseon King Myeongjong’s reign. The temple houses 3,479 Buddhist scriptures of 13 types, including works by Kim Jeong-hee. 

Today, Bongeunsa Temple isn’t just a relic of the past – it’s a vibrant hub of Buddhist practice and tradition. They even host an incredible ceremony called the Jeongdaebulsa, where monks parade around carrying ancient Buddhist scriptures and performing traditional rituals every year on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month. Bongeunsa also offers one- and two-day temple-stay programs for visitors to experience Buddhist traditions and purify the mind and body. This is a must-try activity!

Temple Stay and Temple Life programs

Temple Life program

“Temple Life” is a quick way to experience Korean Buddhist culture. You’ll tour the temple, make lotus flowers, meditate, and enjoy a tea ceremony with a monk. It’s a chance to break from the usual hustle and bustle and find inner calm. And when you leave Bongeunsa Temple, you’ll even have a handmade lotus flower to remind you of your peaceful day.

Temple Stay program

The Bongeunsa Temple stay is a program where you can experience Buddhist tradition and find inner peace through the daily life of monks. It provides a chance to quiet your busy mind, take a deep breath, and engage in introspection within the serene environment of Bongeunsa Temple. 

With options for a one-day and overnight program at the historic Bongeunsa temple in the city, it caters to contemporary individuals seeking moments of reflection amidst their busy lives. During the programs, you can join in various exciting activities such as temple tours, tea ceremonies, monastic meals, and morning Buddhist ceremonial services. Through this program, you can gain valuable insights into your existence, relationships, and life direction while finding precious time to cultivate wisdom. Check out the detailed Temple stay timetable here.

Details about activities you may take at Bongeunsa Temple

Temple tour

On the temple tour, you’ll do more than just visit a Buddhist temple—you’ll experience Korean Buddhism and culture firsthand. You’ll discover a wealth of Buddhist cultural treasures, such as architecture, sculptures, art, crafts, Buddhist paintings, and Dancheong (temple paintwork), each carrying the teachings of the Buddha.

Lotus Lantern Making

The lotus symbolizes Buddhism, while lanterns and incense have been revered as offerings to the Buddha for centuries. Crafting and lighting your lantern with sincerity is a virtuous act. If you’re not confident in your skills, don’t worry – step-by-step guidance will be available. And the best part? You can take your lantern home as a gift after the workshop.

Cham-Seon (Seon meditation )

Seon meditation is all about quieting the mind and letting go of thoughts. With Cham-Seon, you’ll learn mindfulness and concentration skills, which are important in Korean Buddhism. At Bongeunsa, they’ll teach you Cham-Seon basics, helping you tune into your true nature by staying focused and observant.

Da-Seon (Tea Ceremony)

Da-Seon-il-mil is like a laid-back meditation session with tea. It’s all about staying mindful and focused while sipping on your brew. When you take a sip, your senses come alive – you see the color, hear the water, smell the aroma, taste the flavor, and feel the cup’s warmth. It’s a chill way to enjoy your tea while staying present.

Yebool

Yebool is a ceremony that kicks off the temple day, honoring the Sakyamuni Buddha, Bodhisattvas, and his disciples. It’s a time for self-reflection and chanting, which brings a calming and purifying effect to the mind.

Ulyeok (Communal Work)

Ulyeok, or “working together,” is also known as Unyeok, meaning “gathering individual power like clouds.” While labor is just a part of life in the secular world, Ulyeok takes on a deeper meaning in the Seon sect as an important practice in Buddhist temples. In this program, you get to experience the daily tasks of monks, like cleaning, watering plants, and cooking, which offer insights into their way of life.

108 Prostrations

In Buddhism, bowing is a way to show humility and respect and to take refuge in The Three Jewels—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Bowing 108 times symbolizes the purification of worldly sufferings, with each bow purifying one defilement.

Copying Sutra (Dark blue paper, Gold ink)

Sagyeong is a Buddhist practice where you carefully copy sutras by hand, showing respect to the Buddha. By focusing on every word and making consistent progress, you gain insight into the teachings of Buddha and practice concentration and patience for yourself.

Salt Mandala

Mandala is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice where you fill a circle with colorful salt after drawing your shapes. Nowadays, it’s also used as a form of therapy, promoting balance, self-confidence, and overcoming challenges through drawing. This experience can help you improve concentration, relax tension, foster a sense of community, and purify the mind.

Experience of Korean Traditional Culture

This program lets you explore Korean traditional culture at a Buddhist temple. You can try making Lotus Flower Lanterns and Ingyeong (WoodBlock Printing) and even learn to prepare Temple food. It’s a hands-on way to experience these rich traditions.

Best time to visit Bongeunsa Temple

The temple is open daily year-round and is worth visiting in every season. Whether spring, summer, fall, or winter, this place offers a peaceful retreat for a stroll and relaxation. However, the best time to visit is on Thursdays when the complex hosts the Temple Life program for individuals. If you want an extra special experience, plan your visit during the Lotus Lantern Festival in April. During this time, the temple is adorned with beautiful decorations to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. It’s a sight you won’t want to miss!

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Some useful tips and things to keep in mind

• Be respectful of the monks and nuns. If you see a monk or nun going about their day, give them a bow or nod as a sign of respect.
• Visit on a Thursday. Thursdays are special days at Bongeunsa Temple because they offer a Temple Life program for visitors. 
• Return your training outfit and blanket neatly after the program ends.
• If you join the temple stay program, clean up your room before leaving to ensure a pleasant environment for future guests.
• Respect fellow participants by refraining from causing disturbances and silence your cell phone during program activities.
• Smoking, drinking (alcohol), and revealing clothes are forbidden in the temple.

Attractions near Bongeunsa Temple

COEX 

• Location: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
• Open hours: 10:30 – 22:00 daily
• Website: www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall

COEX is Korea’s largest convention center and exhibition space, conveniently linked to Samseong Station on subway line 2. It boasts diverse attractions, including a shopping center, movie theater, musical concert hall, aquarium, exhibition halls, and renowned restaurants. COEX has it all. With so much to offer, you can easily spend an entire day there and never run out of things to see and do.

K-Star Road

• Location: Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea

Like Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, South Korea has a K-star Road in Gangnam District, Seoul. It’s a famous spot honoring major K-pop stars, with human-sized bear dolls dressed as K-pop idols lining the street. These “Gangnamdols” represent different groups like BTS and SNSD. After snapping pics with them, you can explore the lively surroundings of shops, cafes, and K-pop-themed restaurants. It’s a must-visit for K-pop fans!

Apgujeong Rodeo Street

• Location: Apgujeong-ro South 35-gil, Seolleung-ro West 14-gil

Since the 1990s, Apgujeong has been the epitome of fashion and trendsetting in Korea, a reputation it still holds today. The street has fashion outlets, flagship stores, and renowned restaurants with unique interior designs. It’s also a hot spot for Korean dramas and films, with many famous filming locations scattered throughout the area. If you want to experience Korean fashion and cultural trends, this street is the place to go.

In conclusion, if you’re ever in Seoul and need peace, why not visit Bongeunsa Temple? Trust me, you won’t regret it.

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