Soul searching through temple and hanok stays

Dahmsojung is one of the hanok stay venues at Bukchon Hanok Village in central Seoul. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Kim Se-jeong

Serenity is a scarce commodity in contemporary urban life. People are always surrounded by people, buildings and cars; and there’s no time or the energy to think about life.

That’s where temple stay programs in Seoul come in. They can bring back the peace, self-reflection and a good-night sleep that people need.

Serenity is only one of many things that temple stay programs can offer. Most of the temples are historic, offering an opportunity to have a glimpse of the history of Korea and Buddhism here. Rare experiences of full bowing, meditation, tea ceremonies and meditating with prayer with beads further enrich your stay.

The temple cuisine is comprised of vegetable. It may be challenging but is still worth trying because it is part of healing. The same goes for sleeping. It’s not a quality mattress, but it’s still an experience.

Eight temples in Seoul offer the temple stay: Bongeun, Hwagye, Gwanmun, Gilsang, Jingwan, Geumseon, Myogak and Jogye.

Participants at a temple stay meditate at Geumseon Temple in Seoul. / Courtesy of Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism

Bonbeun Temple in southern Seoul is one of the most popular temple stay venues. The temple has more than A 1,000 years history and is famous for many historic characters engraved on the building and woodblock carvings of the Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra). It is also renowned for a lantern festival on Buddha’s birthday.

Jingwan Temple, founded in 1011 on Mount Bukhan in northwestern Seoul, is known for “suryukje,” a Buddhist ceremony which “provides food and Buddha’s teachings to spirits and starved demons that wander the land and sea.”

The temple is on the outskirts of the city, and people can enjoy good hiking to the fascinating mountaintop view before and after the program.

A foreigner, who identified herself as Klaudia from Poland, stayed at Hwagye Temple in April. She wrote on templestay.com: “If you are looking for a way to learn more about Buddhist and Korean culture, want to relax in a peaceful place, think more about yourself… a temple stay is for you!”

Recommending the program to everyone coming to Korea, she said, “The location is perfect, even though it is in the city, the surrounding makes you feel that you are far away from the busy city life. Beautiful mountains and forest will help you relax and get more energy for new challenges.”

Visit www.visitseoul.net for reservations and more information on other temple stay programs.

Hanok stay

A hanok stay is similar to a temple stay but has contemporary service and a free schedule.

Hanok is the traditional wooden structure once so common for homes. It suffered demolitions with the rise of apartments. But, its fate has changed recently as people began to realize their values. With the regeneration efforts by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, hanok districts in the capital, for example Bukchon Hanok Village, were reborn as new tourist attractions.

Bukchon village has the traditional cultural center guiding tourists to various arts and craft activities, lecture series by traditional artists and tours of the village.

Hanoks in the village are under private ownership, so visitors can experience hanok only through staying in hanok house-turned-guesthouses.

The Kimchi Guesthouse is a famous option. In the traditional structure, guests have rooms with a central floor heating and a small thin mattress. But the house offers a modern-style bathroom and other conveniences.

Doo Guesthouse is another favored one. It has the charm of tradition but is also outfitted with air-conditioning and a Wi-Fi service. Both Kimchi and Doo guesthouses were reviewed on tripadvisor.com.

For more information on hanok stay and reservations, visit www.visitseoul.net.