A ‘Radical Transformation’ of a City Temple for Tired Office Workers
Pet dogs allowed in the temple... Upon entering the temple, the pet dog ‘Saekom’ greets visitors
The first floor features a gallery café and a meditation room decorated with artisan works
The second floor temple has bed-like sofas... “A place for anyone to come and rest”
Monk Deokwoon runs a 5-minute meditation YouTube channel... also published a book
A new horizon of meditation and relaxation, an innovation of Buddhism in the heart of Seoul
In the heart of the city, there is a space that completely overturns the concept of a traditional temple. Chungjeongsa, located near Namsangol Hanok Village in Seoul, is integrating Buddhism into the daily lives of modern people through the Jogye Order's radical experiments.
Upon entering Chungjeongsa, the first thing that greets visitors is the pet dog ‘Saekom’. Adopted by Monk Deokwoon, who took office in March this year, Saekom has already become a popular star among local office workers. Recently, Chungjeongsa officially allowed pets to enter the temple through the ‘Me and Pet’ campaign. This is an attempt to modernly interpret the Buddha's teaching of respecting all living beings.
Transforming the temple's spatial configuration into an open space accessible to everyone
The biggest feature of this temple lies in its spatial configuration. The first floor has a gallery café and a meditation room side by side. The gallery café is autonomously operated by a lay organization and is designed as an open space where visitors can comfortably chat or relax. In contrast, the meditation room, with its lacquered floor, creates an overwhelming atmosphere, being the only meditation space in the world infused with the artistic spirit of master craftsman Kim In-young.
The second-floor temple most vividly showcases Chungjeongsa's innovation. Instead of a traditional temple structure, the floor is carpeted and bean bag sofas are arranged, making it resemble a high-end lounge. Monk Deokwoon states, “I hope that anyone, whether a Buddhist or a foreigner, can come here to lie down, read a book, meditate, or take a nap to find peace of mind.”
Efforts to widely promote the ‘K-Meditation’, which was officially recognized by the Jogye Order in 2023, are also active. Monk Deokwoon uploads a 5-minute meditation video on YouTube every morning and recently published a book titled ‘The Path of Chanting the Heart Sutra with Meditation’. He emphasizes, “Chanting the Heart Sutra is not just a simple prayer but a process of experiencing inner tranquility through meditation.”
At the end of the year, another innovative event transcending religion is also in preparation. Just like the sign at the entrance of Chungjeongsa that says ‘A temple where three wishes come true’, modern people can at least fulfill the wish of ‘peace of mind’ here. Monk Deokwoon continues his efforts to popularize Buddhism by maximizing the advantages of a temple in the city.
Oh Ji-hyun, Editor of Healing News