A one-day festival inviting visitors to awaken their senses one by one and enter a meditative state will be held at Guryongsa Temple on Mount Chiaksan in Wonju, Gangwon Province. The 2026 Won·Ju Meditation Festa will take place around Bogwangnu Pavilion at Guryongsa Temple on 24 October, from 11am to 3pm. The event, organised with support from the Wonju Cultural Foundation’s arts and culture support programme, was conceived by artistic director Kim Yun-kyung, CEO of Mucom and a composer.
A day to return to the roots and fill life: the meaning behind Won·Ju
The event’s name comes from Wonju, the city’s name. It combines 原, meaning ‘origin’, and 注, meaning ‘to fill’, conveying the idea of returning to one’s roots and filling life with meaning. The name points to a place that shares its name with the mountain temple. It is an invitation to turn our gaze inward for a moment, after spending so long rushing ahead.
The philosophy of life of Jang Il-sun, brought to life for the first time in an eight-movement gugak meditation piece
The day’s centrepiece is a newly composed gugak meditation piece. Written in the spirit of the philosophy of life of the late Jang Il-sun, known as Muwidang, the eight-movement work will be performed here for the first time.
Sound is one of the oldest gateways to meditation. Even for those unfamiliar with closing their eyes and simply observing their breathing, following a sound can help slow the pace of their thoughts. With Western-style sound meditation, such as singing bowls and sound baths, now familiar in Korea, this piece—composed using the rhythms and silences of gugak—offers a chance to experience meditation through Korean sounds.
No need to sit for long: meditation through walking, touching and tasting
Alongside the music, there will be activities that engage the body. The programme includes a mindful walk with a counselling psychologist, a hanji frottage activity—in which paper is placed over an object and rubbed to capture its texture—and a meal of temple food. Through walking, sensing, making and listening, participants will be invited to reflect on the relationship between people and nature.
Each sensation—from the movement of one’s feet and fingertips rubbing paper to the taste of the temple meal—can become a gateway to meditation. For modern people who spend much of the day in front of screens and make little use of their bodies, this format offers an accessible introduction without requiring them to sit for long periods. Those who find seated meditation difficult, or enjoy music or crafts, may find a gateway here that suits them.
Artistic director Kim Yun-kyung said, "I hope this will give participants a chance to slow the pace of everyday life for a while and discover the vitality within themselves."
A Korean-style meditation festival woven from gugak, a mountain temple and hanji
The event’s distinctive character lies in weaving together a meditation experience through elements of Korean culture, including gugak, Buddhist temples, hanji and temple food. As a meditation festival conceived by a composer with support from a local cultural foundation, it also reflects a broader trend: meditation is extending beyond spaces of Buddhist practice into the cultural and artistic sphere. The more such efforts shaped by Korean sounds and settings grow, the more varied the face of K-meditation presented to the world is likely to become.
Book through Naver, with places limited to the first 50 applicants
Applications are being taken through Naver Booking, with places limited to the first 50 applicants. The fee is 20,000 won for general admission and 15,000 won for early bookings.
Event: 2026 Won·Ju Meditation Festa
Date and time: Saturday 24 October 2026, 11am–3pm
Venue: Around Bogwangnu Pavilion, Guryongsa Temple, Mount Chiaksan, Wonju, Gangwon Province
Programme: Premiere of an eight-movement gugak meditation piece; mindful walk; hanji frottage activity; temple food meal
Booking: Naver Booking; first 50 applicants
Fee: 20,000 won general admission; 15,000 won early booking
Press enquiries: fare3041@naver.com