Bongeunsa Temple

A peaceful escape in the heart of the city and free to enter. The temple grounds are filled with beautiful traditional buildings, serene Buddha statues, and impressive drum and bell pavilions. Small shops sell tea, incense, and souvenirs, adding to the experience. A calm and spiritual place to wander, reflect, and enjoy Korean culture.

Bongeunsa Temple is located in the busy and built up area of Gangnam. Visiting it provided serenity. There are a number of different buildings that can be visited. They were all maintained well. I found them to be interesting and peaceful. I would recommend stopping by to visit if you are in the area.

Bongeunsa Temple – A Peaceful Escape in the Heart of Seoul Bongeunsa Temple is a beautiful oasis of calm right in the bustling Gangnam district. Despite being surrounded by skyscrapers and shopping malls, the temple grounds feel serene and spiritual. The highlight is the massive Maitreya Buddha statue, standing over 20 meters tall with its unique square canopy. It’s both impressive and peaceful, making it a must-see spot for photos and quiet reflection. The traditional Korean temple architecture, stone lanterns, and lush greenery create an atmosphere that feels far removed from the busy city. Visitors can simply stroll around, join a temple stay program, or take part in a traditional tea ceremony to experience Korean Buddhist culture firsthand. A perfect place to slow down, breathe, and find a moment of peace in Seoul.

This is the second largest Buddhist temple in Seoul after Jogyesa Temple. Its architecture is not as grand as Jugyesa's, but its territory is larger, with more halls and scripture rooms. I was quite surprised to fins the Guanyin Terrace, which is almost identical in layout to the one at Penang's Ked Lok Si Temple in Malaysia. The difference is that the one in Seoul is much more subtle in its fundraising efforts compared to the one in Penang. There's a teahouse in the temple that claims to offer "Korean traditional tea", but it's pretty unremarkable and quite expensive. The only lasting impression this place left on me was a young monk who smiled at me very kindly - and I saw his Eyes.

Very convenient to get to — just take Exit 1 from the Bongeunsa station. The temple has a peaceful atmosphere even though there are many visitors. I felt recharged with lots of positive energy after visiting.”

Do enter from the main entrance (directly opposite COEX Mall) to avoid a lot of climbing. Nice place to have a look at the Korean religious culture.

Nice temple located in Seoul East. Call, peaceful and historic place. Very close to a huge mall and Gangnam statue

Great place! The information has a very helpful man. His English really good and he gave us direction one by one clearly. The shop also has good stuff and foreighner friendly. Higly recommended to Buy something by the shop bcoz you won't see at another temple.