Seogwangsa Temple (Seosan)

About this place

Seogwangsa Temple is said to have been founded in 928 (the 2nd year of King Gyeongsun of Silla, the 11th year of King Taejo of Goryeo) during the Later Three Kingdoms period, and there is also an account that in 893 (the 7th year of Queen Jinseong of Silla) the great scholar Choe Chiwon (Goun) studied here while serving as governor of Buseong-gun (present-day Seosan). After that, the temple was reorganized in the late Joseon period into its present form and called Samseonam (Three Saints Hermitage) before being renamed Seogwangsa in 1987. The evening bell sounds of this place were originally famous for their beauty. Today the temple operates various temple-stay programs for direct experience of monastic life. The temple grounds include the Daeungjeon (main hall), Ingok Training Center, kitchen, Hyusimdan and Jeogyo-dang (accommodation), and a Go (baduk) experience hall. The Buchunsan Mountain (186.7 m) behind the temple is not particularly high but is full of pine forests and wildflowers, the mingled scent of pine and flowers making it a popular hiking trail for residents of Seosan; the winter snowscapes are particularly beautiful. Nearby attractions include Seosan Central Lake Park and Pungjeong Reservoir.