The Korea Buddhist Culture Promotion Agency will operate a “Special Temple Stay for Foreigners” at 19 temples nationwide from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30. The program allows foreign tourists visiting Korea and foreigners residing in Korea to experience a two-night, one-and-a-half-day schedule for 30,000 won.
Two nights and three ten-thousand won, lowered the barrier to entering a mountain temple
The key to this program is the cost. The culture promotion agency set the participation fee at 30,000 won, cutting the existing experience fee by more than half. It is a measure designed so that foreigners who hesitated in the face of language and information barriers can experience a day at a mountain temple without burden.
Participants follow the daily routine of the temple for two days. Morning prayers at dawn and bowl-feeding, seated Zen meditation and meditation, and a tea talk with the monks form the core of the program. Depending on the temple, additional experiences are included, such as the 108 prostrations and making rosaries, as well as walking along the temple’s trails. Detailed schedules operate differently by temple.
From Jogyesa to Haeinsa, 19 locations nationwide open their doors
Participating temples are distributed evenly across nine provinces and regions nationwide. In Seoul, Jogyesa, Hwagyesa, and the International Seon Center take part. In Gangwon, Naksan-sa and Woljeong-sa, and in Gyeonggi, Myeojok-sa and Yongjusa, as well as Daegwangwon in Seongnam, are on the list.
In South Gyeongsang, Tongdosa, Haeinsa, and Budda Seonwon participate, and Beomeosa in Busan and Donghwasa in Daegu were also included. In South Jeolla, Daheungsa and Yeongok-sa; in North Jeolla, Seonunsa; and in South Chungcheong, Magok-sa and Seogwang-sa, as well as Sudeok-sa, were confirmed as participating temples.
The lineup includes both urban temples and major temples in the mountains. Travelers visiting Korea on a short schedule can choose a day that fits them in a Seoul city temple, while those who want the atmosphere of a deep mountain temple can pick their own day in a regional major temple.
Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis on the English website
Applicants apply through the official English-language Temple Stay website (www.eng.templestay.com) starting at 1:00 p.m. on Aug. 12 on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations close once the募集 capacity for each temple is filled. Detailed information, such as participating temples and the operating schedules by program, can be checked on the reservation page.
Given that the program has drawn strong response from foreign participants every year, early closing is expected.
2026 Special Temple Stay for Foreigners guide
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Operating period | Sept. 1, 2026 (Tue) ~ Sept. 30, 2026 (Wed) |
Eligibility | Foreigners |
Participation fee | 30,000 won for two nights and one-and-a-half-day |
Participating temples | 19 locations nationwide |
Reservation method | Online reservations through the Temple Stay English website (www.eng.templestay.com) |
Reservation page opens | Aug. 12 (Wed) at 1:00 p.m. |
“A pathway to feel the breath of Korean Buddhism from 1,700 years ago”
Ilae Seon-sun, head of the Korea Buddhist Culture Promotion Agency, said, “Amid growing global interest in Korean culture, Temple Stay is the most special passage through which you can experience the breath of Korean Buddhism from 1,700 years ago with your whole body and soul.” He added, “I hope it becomes a time in the beautiful mountain temples of September to share a cup of tea beyond nationality and language, look after yourself, and share the deep charm and warm affection of Korean Buddhism.”
Temple Stay began in 2002 in the wake of the Korea-Japan World Cup and has taken root as a traditional culture experience program that represents Korea. Recently, amid rising interest in K-culture, the number of foreign participants has continued to increase steadily.
For the mountain temples of September, it is a time when summer’s heat is just starting to ease. Around that time, when the sound of water in the valley grows less frequent and the early-morning air turns cool, people who arrived from a foreign country sit on the same floor and share a cup of tea. The figure of 30,000 won will open not just a night’s accommodation, but that kind of time.”
