Etiquette & cultureBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Directly across the street from the futuristic mega-malls, neon skyscrapers, and luxury convention hotels of Gangnam stands Bongeunsa, an ancient Buddhist sanctuary founded in 794 AD during the Silla Kingdom. Spanning peaceful wooded slopes on the side of Sudo Mountain, Bongeunsa is most famous for its colossal 23-meter-tall stone statue of Mireuk-daebul (the Maitreya Buddha of the Future), towering serenely above the modern urban skyline of Seoul. For visitors exploring Gangnam, Bongeunsa provides a powerful, contemplative contrast between centuries-old spiritual heritage and 21st-century architectural hyper-modernity.
Because Bongeunsa is located right in the trendy Gangnam shopping and business district, many travelers arrive dressed for casual city exploring or shopping. However, Bongeunsa is an active, revered place of Buddhist worship with hundreds of resident and visiting monastics.
Wear respectful, modest clothing: ensure shoulders and upper thighs are covered. Avoid beach tank tops, gym workout crop-tops, and revealing mini-skirts. When stepping into any prayer hall or temple building, remove your shoes and place them in the shelves, and always wear socks. Maintain quiet voices and do not speak loudly on cellphones in the courtyard.
The crowning highlight of Bongeunsa is the monumental Mireuk-daebul (Maitreya Buddha), standing 23 meters (75 feet) high on an elevated stone plaza carved into the hillside. Completed in 1996 after a decade of dedicated craftsmanship, it is one of the tallest stone Buddha statues in South Korea.
In the open-air stone courtyard at the Buddha feet, worshippers kneel on individual mats to perform prostrations. Standing at the base of the statue and looking back toward Gangnam reveals an iconic photographic framing: the serene stone Buddha framed directly against the glass towers of the COEX trade center.
Tucked into the quieter upper reaches of the hillside sits Panjeon, the oldest surviving wooden building in the temple complex, constructed in 1855. This hall houses over 3,400 historic hand-carved woodblocks of the Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Garland Sutra).
The calligraphy on the wooden signboard hanging above Panjeon was written by Kim Jeong-hui (Chusa), Korea most celebrated calligrapher, just three days before his death in 1856. The quiet walking trail surrounding Panjeon winds through fragrant pine groves and bamboo thickets.
Bongeunsa holds four daily Buddhist chanting services (Yebul), with the dawn service (4:00 AM) and evening twilight service (6:00 PM) featuring the resonant striking of the Four Instruments: the Dharma Drum, Wooden Fish, Cloud Gong, and Great Bronze Temple Bell.
The temple hosts an authentic Dado (Korean Tea Ceremony) experiential program for international visitors every Thursday afternoon, introducing traditional meditation techniques, mindful tea brewing, and temple etiquette.
Bongeunsa is exceptionally easy to reach via public transit. Take Seoul Subway Line 9 to Bongeunsa Station (Exit 1), which brings you directly to the temple entrance gate within a 2-minute flat walk.
Alternatively, if you are visiting the famous Starfield COEX Library or shopping mall, exit through the northern ground-level doors of COEX and cross the street at the pedestrian crosswalk to step immediately into the quiet temple grounds.
Yes. There is no entrance fee to explore the grounds, walk the hillside trails, or view the 23-meter Maitreya Buddha statue. The temple is open daily from 5:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
Yes. Bongeunsa remains open until 10:00 PM. Visiting after dusk is spectacular, as the giant stone Buddha statue and traditional temple lanterns are warmly illuminated against the dark Gangnam skyline.
Absolutely. The Starfield Library inside COEX Mall is located directly across the avenue, making them an ideal combined 2-to-3 hour cultural and architectural itinerary.
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