Temple stay program attracts non-Korean tourists
Tourists attend a temple stay program at Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang-gun County, Gangwon-do Province, on May 27.
By Kim Young Deok and Kim Young Shin
Photos= Woljeongsa Temple
Many tourists from overseas visited Buddhist temples in Korea during the spring travel week.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 3,000 non-Korean tourists participated in the temple stay programs run by 87 Buddhist temples across Korea from April 29 to May 14, the official 2017 Spring Travel Week as designated by the ministry. The temple tourism program had the slogan “Happy KRW 10,000 temple stay,” as it only cost KRW 10,000, around USD 10, for one night and two days, including food. This year saw the highest number of non-Korean participants in the national tourism program.
Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Myogaksa Temple in Seoul and Heungguksa Temple in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do Province, were the three most popular places to stay. A total of 434, 385 and 367 non-Korean tourists, respectively, sampled the Buddhist way of life at the temples during the spring travel week.
Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Myogaksa Temple in Seoul and Heungguksa Temple in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do Province, were the three most popular places to stay. A total of 434, 385 and 367 non-Korean tourists, respectively, sampled the Buddhist way of life at the temples during the spring travel week.
Participants in a temple stay program at Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, prepare tea for a tea ceremony with Buddhist monks on May 28.
The “Happy KRW 10,000 temple stay” program will open again from Oct. 21 to Nov. 5, the official 2017 Autumn Travel Week, according to the culture ministry.
Additionally, Buddhist temples in Gangwon-do, the host province of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will prepare special programs for non-Korean visitors.
“Sinheungsa Temple in Sokcho-si City will prepare a quiz for visitors as they tour famous spots in the city and complete given tasks. Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang-gun County will run a one-day program that includes walking through a fir forest,” said Choi Hee Sun, an official from the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism.
“Currently, the only place that offers temple stays to non-Koreans in Gangwon-do Province is Woljeongsa Temple, but four other temples in the area, including Baekdamsa and Naksansa temples, will join the program to serve more non-Korean tourists.”
kyd1991@korea.kr