A trip to abbey gives balance in life

Waegwan Abbey is an old chapel in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province, the first stop in novelist Gong Ji-young’s travelogue of 11 monasteries. Above is the old building in its premises where masses were celebrated before a new one was built in 2008. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Waegwan Abbey: A spiritual shelter for city dweller

By Baek Byung-yeul

WAEGWAN, North Gyeongsang Province — Waegwan is a small country town in Chilgok County, North Gyeongsang Province, about three hours southeast of Seoul. The village is not only known for the U.S. military base Camp Carroll but also for the Roman Catholic abbey, Waegwan Abbey.

Founded in 1952, the abbey is home to about 130 Benedictine monks.

Recently, it was included in Korean novelist Gong Ji-young’s latest travelogue, “More of the Monastery Travelogue 2.”

The mass is being held at Waegwan Abbey’s main chapel building on Dec. 27, 2014. The abbey holds masses five times a day albeit visitors are not required to attend every ceremony. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

Lee Ho-jin, who was baptized by Pope Francis during the five-day papal trip to Korea last August, shares his memories of meeting the Pope while visiting Waegwan Abbey on Dec. 28, 2014. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeul

In the sequel to her 2001 travelogue, “Monastery Travelogue,” the novelist speaks frankly on her Catholic belief, visiting 11 monasteries in Korea, Europe and the U.S. Gong’s travelogue starts at Waegwan Abbey.

Entering through the heavy wooden door of the church, Rev. Isaac Koh Jin-seok, a Benedictine priest welcomed some 30 visitors, including Gong and her devoted readers, and reporters, to a one-night stay at the abbey.

Koh explained that life at the abbey “is just as simple as that.”

“Under the Benedictine motto ‘ora et labora’ (pray and work), we wake up at 5 a.m. and continue working and praying until we go to bed at 8:30 p.m.,” he said.

He said Waegwan Abbey is “on track for self-sufficiency.”

A Roman Catholic enters the main chapel building of Waegwan Abbey. / Korea Times photos by Baek Byung-yeul

A sculpture of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first Korean Catholic priest, is located at the garden of Waegwan Abbey.

“We produce everything we need in this abbey. From metal-wares, wooden products to glass works, we handicraft goods in this church,” he said.

He noted that the abbey has its own publishing company, which is its biggest source of income.

“Our abbey run a publishing company, Bundo Publishing Co. Established in the 1960s, the company has played a pivotal role in promoting Roman Catholicism in Korea,” he said. The abbey also earns revenue from making and selling sausages, the monk added.

Koh, who has resided in the abbey for 15 years, said “living as a monk in the abbey is a journey to find a balance in life.”

“Living in the abbey might seem comfortable, but, actually, it is not. We devote our lifetimes to dispelling obsession from the whole world,” he added.

Though it has been over a decade since Waegwan Abbey began its abbey stay program, not many people know about it, unlike the Jogye Order’s (Korea’s largest Buddhist order) temple stay program.

Abbot Blasio Park Hyun-dong, head of Waegwan Abbey, said the abbey is open to everyone, even those outside the Roman Catholic faith.

“We welcome everyone. All we expect from people is that they be emboldened while staying here.”

The abbey offers a single or double room with three meals a day. A single room stay costs 45,000 won and a double-room one costs 35,000 won per person per day.

It holds masses five times a day, albeit visitors are not required to attend every ceremony.

Rev. Isaac Koh Jin-seok introduces the abbey's atelier for making metal products to the visitors.

A spiritual shelter

The visitors who came with Gong to stay at the abbey needed to heal from their own tragedies.

Lee Ho-jin from Ansan, Gyeonggi Province is the father of one of the students who died aboard the Sewol ferry that sank last April that killed more than 300 people. He is the first Korean to be baptized by Pope Francis during the five-day papal trip to Korea last August. Lee took “Francis” as his baptismal name.

“Being baptized by the pope was life changing. When I met the Holy Father, I felt like I was like walking in the clouds,” Lee said.

He said he was able to visit Waegwan Abbey thanks to Gong.

“When I was in deep sorrow after losing my son, Gong was one of the people who gave me a helping hand. She gave me her books and offered some words of comfort. She also invited me to the abbey so that I can heal,” Lee said.

“Many people, including Gong, really helped me a lot both materially and emotionally. In return for their support, I will show them that I can stand on my own feet,” He added.

Lee Gyeong-hee from Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province said she is a Protestant.

“For the first time in my life, I had a chance to attend mass. It was a really special experience for me,” she said.

“I am a housewife with kids. Sometimes I feel like getting away from my children. I am really encouraged by the series of masses available to visitors at the abbey.”

Hwang Seon-young, who is a big fan of Gong, said she decided to visit the abbey as she needed encouragement.

“I am scheduled to undergo an operation soon. I was afraid that I might cry, but I didn’t. It was a holy experience,” she said.

For more information on Waegwan Abbey, visit osb.or.kr or call (054) 970-2000.