Narayeon Geumgang (left) and Miljeok Geumgang (right) at Silleuksa Temple in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do.
Introduction
When you first enter a temple, you’re typically greeted by the paintings or the statues of the “Sacheonwang” in Korean, or the “Four Heavenly Kings” in English, inside the Cheonwangmun Gate. However, there are two other guardians that you can find at the entry of a Korean Buddhist temple. They can either be painted on the front entry doors to the temple, or they can take up residence inside the Geumgangmun Gate. As I’ve already written a post about the Sacheonwang, I thought I would now write about the other two guardians that you might encounter at the entry of a Korean temple. So who are these two guardians? What do they look like? And why are they at the entry of a Korean Buddhist temple.
The History of Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang
The twin guardians at the entry of a Korean Buddhist temple are known as “Narayeon Geumgang – 나라연금강” and “Miljeok Geumgang – 밀적 금강” in Korean. Both are manifestations of Vajrapani (Protector and Guide to Siddhartha Gautama). Additionally, they are seen as a manifestation of Daesaeji-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom and Power for Amita-bul), and in Pure Land Buddhism, or “Jeongto-jong – 정토종” in Korean, the image of Daesaeji-bosal will appear flanking Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise).
In Chinese Buddhism, where these two figures originate, and then migrate eastward to the Korean peninsula and then onto Japan, they are known as Heng and Ha. At a Chinese Buddhist temple, you’ll typically find them housed inside the Shanmen (The Gate of Three Liberations), which is the most important gate at a Chan (Seon – 선) Buddhist temple. They typically hold vajras (short metal weapons symbolic of the indestructibility of a diamond). In Korean a vajra is known as “Geumgang-jeo – 금강저.” Both are believed to protect the dharma (Buddha’s teachings), so they are known as dharmapala (dharma protector).
Narayeon Geumgang (left) and Miljeok Geumgang (right) atDogapsa Temple in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do
Originally when these two guardians appeared in Indian Buddhism, there was only one of them. However, as Buddhism migrated eastward and appeared in China, the influence of Chinese traditional culture and folk customs took hold. So instead of having just one of these guardians, and appealing to the Chinese custom of the importance of pairs, these two guardians multiplied and became Heng and Ha.
The Appearance of Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang
As for the appearance of Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang, they can be wearing a crown and they have enormous physical strength made evident by their rippling upper body muscles. They have graceful, light clothes with their upper bodies exposed. However, during the conservatism of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), the upper body was later clothed. They can have wild hair, coloured skin, and fierce and intimidating expressions on their faces. They also appear with their eyes wide open and their noses protruding outward. Most commonly, and the greatest giveaway as to their identity, are the vajras that they hold in their hands.
Narayeon Geumgang (left) and Miljeok Geumgang (right) atMagoksa Temple in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do.
More specifically, the guardian on the right is traditionally Miljeok Geumgang, and it has its mouth open to pronounce the sound “a.” This sound represents the vocalization of the first grapheme (a grapheme is a letter or a number of letters that represent a sound in a word) of Sanskrit Devanagari. This is “अ” and it’s pronounced “a.” Miljeok Geumgang symbolizes unconcealed strength, which is physically made evident with the geumgang-jeo (diamond club), thunderbolt stick, or sun symbol he holds. It’s also made plain by Miljeok Geumgang baring his teeth.
The guardian on the left, Narayeon Geumgang, has its mouth closed to utter the “heng” sound. This sound represents the vocalization of the last grapheme of Devanāgarī, which is “ह.” This is pronounced like a “heng.” Furthermore, Narayeon Geumgang symbolizes a dormant sense of strength, which is physically made evident with his mouth firmly clenched, and he’s either barehanded or wielding a geumgang-jeo (diamond club).
Together, these two characters of “a” and “heng” are meant to symbolize the birth and death of all things. According to myth, all people are born speaking the “a” sound with their mouths open. And when a person dies, they are saying “heng” with their mouths closed. Similar to Jaya-Vijaya in Hinduism, Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang in Buddhism are meant to signify “everything” or “all creation.” And the contraction for both, which is “Om – ॐ,” which in Sanskrit symbolizes The Absolute.
As for their powers, they can use deadly rays of light to defeat those that want to harm the dharma. So Narayeon Geumgang shoots deadly rays of light from its nostrils, while it makes the “heng” sound. While Miljeok Geumgang shoots rays of light from his mouth, while it makes the “ha” sound with its mouth. So while Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang protect the physical world of the temple, they also protect wisdom from ignorance.
Inside Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju with Narayeon Geumgang (right) and Miljeok Geumgang (left) protectively guarding the entry to the inner chamber (Picture courtesy of Wikipedia).
Examples
There are numerous wonderful examples of Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang both as paintings and statues throughout Korea. As for paintings, you can see some great examples at Nojeonam Hermitage in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do; the famed Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju; Silleuksa Temple in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do; and Beopjangsa Temple in Gyeongju, as well.
As for statues of Narayeon Geumgang and Miljeok Geumgang, you can typically find them inside the Geumgangmun Gate at the entry of the temple grounds. Great examples of these can be found at Magoksa Temple in the Haetalmun Gate in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do; the entry to the Seokguram Grotto in Gyeongju; and inside the historic Haetalmun Gate at Dogapsa Temple in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do.
Narayeon Geumgang (left) and Miljeok Geumgang (right) atBulguksa Temple in Gyeongju.
Two common phrases that are taught early on are 잘 지내세요 and 어떻게 지내세요 - as well as variations on each of those.
However, 잘 지내세요 and others can actually sound awkward in many situations. One of the most common places they can sound awkward is when used to strangers. This is because these phrases actually mean "How are you?" and are used when you actually want to ask someone how they're doing. They're not used as casual ways to say "Hello" to strangers you meet.
This is not to say that 잘 지내세요 isn't used commonly, or that it's an awkward phrase. But it's important to know when and how to use it, in order to avoid sounding awkward in Korean.
The Entry Gate at Bukjijangsa Temple in Dong-gu, Daegu.
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Temple History
Bukjijangsa Temple is located on the south-eastern part ofMt. Palgongsan (1192.3 m) in northern Daegu. Bukjijangsa Temple was first constructed in 465 A.D. by the monk Geukdal-hwasang. The name of the temple, Bukjijangsa Temple, means “North Jijang Temple” in English. The temple is named after the Bodhisattva of the Afterlife, Jijang-bosal. The temple is a counterpart to Namjijangsa Temple in neighbouring Dalseong-gun, Daegu. Namjijangsa Temple, which means “South Jijang Temple” in English, was first established in 684 A.D.
Some foundation stones from the original construction of the temple, which precede the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), still exist on the temple site. The original temple was much larger in size. In 1623, the Daeung-jeon Hall was rebuilt at Bukjijangsa Temple. Originally, it’s believed that this main hall was either a Geukrak-jeon Hall or a Jijang-jeon Hall (probably the more likely of the two). However, after a fire at the temple, the image of Amita-bul, which probably took up residence on the main altar inside the historic shrine hall, was replaced by an image of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha) upon its reconstruction.
Bukjijangsa Temple is home to one Korean Treasure. This is the aforementioned Daeung-jeon Hall, which seems to have been converted into a Jijang-jeon Hall (probably the original purpose of the temple shrine hall). Officially, this temple shrine hall is known as the Jijang-jeon Hall of Bukjijangsa Temple. It’s Korean Treasure #805.
Temple Layout
When you first approach the temple, you’ll arrive up an uneven country road. It’s in a bend in the road, and slightly to the right, that you’ll first encounter the temple’s entry gate. This gate is overgrown with shrubbery, which almost makes it look like nature is trying to reclaim the entry gate. As you enter the gate, you’ll notice two fiercely painted Geumgang-yeoksa (Vajra Warriors) on either side of the entry.
Finally having passed through the entry gate at Bukjijangsa Temple, you’ll find yourself greeted by the compact Jijang-jeon Hall, which is also Korean Treasure #805. For some time, this hall acted as the main hall at Bukjijangsa Temple. Recently, it seems to be have converted back to its former purpose as a Jijang-jeon Hall. This shrine hall was first built in 1623. The architectural components of the Jijang-jeon Hall borrow from the style of the mid-Joseon Dynasty, while the dragons that adorn the Jijang-jeon Hall are derived from the late-Joseon Dynasty. The exterior walls to the Jijang-jeon Hall are largely unadorned all but for the traditional dancheong colours. As for the interior, you’ll be greeted by a solitary stone image of Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife). This stone statue was first discovered behind the neighbouring Daeung-jeon Hall. It was found without a pedestal or nimbus. The left hand holds an orb, while the right hand is doing a mudra (ritualized hand gesture) for warding off evil spirits. It’s believed to be from Later Silla (668-935 A.D.). The statue is Daegu Tangible Cultural Property #15. This is another one that should at least be a Korean Treasure.
To the left of the Jijang-jeon Hall are the monks dorms. And to the right of the Jijang-jeon Hall is the temple’s Daeung-jeon Hall. The exterior walls to the Daeung-jeon Hall are largely unadorned, but they do have some Buddhist motif murals up near the eaves. Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, you’ll find a triad of statues centred by Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). This statue is joined on the main altar by Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) and Bohyeon-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Power).
In front of the Daeung-jeon Hall, and down from the main hall, is the older-looking monks dorms and storage shed. On fall days, they hang persimmons from the eaves of this building. It’s also in front of these older monks dorms that you’ll find the twin pagodas at Bukjijangsa Temple. They are Daegu Tangible Cultural Property #6, and they date back to either Silla (57 B.C. – 668 A.D.)orLater Silla (668-935 A.D.). The twin pagodas design were popular during the Silla Dynasty. The pagodas have a double layer base with a three-story body. Simplistic in design, the twin pagodas were renovated in May, 1981.
The final shrine hall that visitors can explore at Bukjijangsa Temple is the Sanshin-gak Hall to the left of the Jijang-jeon Hall. A trail leads up to the shaman shrine hall. And housed inside the Sanshin-gak Hall is a gentle-looking mural dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit). Rather uniquely, there are a pair of wooden dragon door handles placed on each entry door to this shaman shrine hall, so have a look for this feature.
How To Get There
It’s a little complicated to get to Bukjijangsa Temple. First, and from the Dong Daegu subway stop, you’ll need to head towards Ansim, which is on the first line. After two stops, get off at the Anyanggyo subway stop. You’ll need to take Exit #2 and head towards the bus station. From this station, you can either take Bus #401 during the weekdays or Palgong #2 bus on weekends or holidays. The bus ride will last thirty stops; after which, you’ll need to get off at the Jinin-dong (Yangji Maeul) stop. From here, you’ll need to walk about twenty-fives minutes towards the Daegu Ole-gil Palgongsan 1 course (hiking trail). On foot, you’ll head up this road for eighteen minutes, or 1.2 kilometres.
Overall Rating: 6/10
Bukjijangsa Temple is beautifully located and framed by the neighbouring Mt. Palgongsan. In addition to all the natural beauty at Bukjijangsa Temple, you can also enjoy the historic, and recently converted, Jijang-jeon Hall, as well as the twin pagodas and the tranquil image of the Mountain Spirit inside the Sanshin-gak Hall.
A look through the entry gate at Bukjijangsa Temple.
The recently converted Jijang-jeon Hall at Bukjijangsa Temple.
The Later Silla statue of Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife) inside the Jijang-jeon Hall.
The Sanshin-gak Hall at the temple.
And the painting of the Mountain Spirit inside the Sanshin-gak Hall.
The view from the Sanshin-gak Hall towards the Daeung-jeon Hall.
A different angle of the Daeung-jeon Hall.
Persimmons hanging from the old monks dorms at Bukjijangsa Temple.
And one of the twin pagodas at the temple in front of the Daeung-jeon Hall.
It's Keykat's turn to do some cleaning for a change. I hope she can do a good job, as there's dust everywhere and the floors are dirty.
The ~서 form is commonly used to mean "because," but it also has another common usage when combined with action verbs to mean "and then." This form can be used to mean that the second action (whatever is used after this form) happens immediately after the first action (whatever this form is attached to).
Also make sure to get your free PDF version of this lesson (and every lesson in the "Learn Korean" series) by clicking the download link right below this video~!
Have you ever read a Korean webtoon before? Korean webtoons are like comic books but entirely digital; in short, they’re digital comics. They’ve become much more popular among Koreans than traditional comic books. They’ve grown to be a big industry with even global success and Netflix deals getting made.
One of the most exciting factors of a Korean webtoon is that a new “episode” is published weekly. In comparison, you’d get a new issue of a comic book available to you only once a month.
What is a webtoon?
The word webtoon derives from the words “web” and “cartoon.” They are entirely digital, most commonly published on Naver and Daum, the top search engines in South Korea. You can access them directly on the website, or you can download an app for it.
Is Webtoon popular in Korea?
Korean webtoons are extremely popular in Korea in the market, especially with younger generations. Some factors contributing to its popularity are the accessibility and communication available for the readers to the webtoon artists. But above all, reading Korean webtoons is entertaining!
Why would you enjoy reading a Korean webtoon?
There are multiple reasons why you would enjoy reading a Korean webtoon! For example…
1) They are a great additional source for finessing your Korean language skills. Even if you cannot instantly understand everything written down, the visual images will aid in knowing the context.
2) Korean Webtoons are easy to read anywhere, anytime. Because you can access them straight from your phone, you don’t need to burden yourself with a book or a Kindle in your bag. Reading Korean webtoons is a great way to unwind on study breaks or while traveling in public transportation.
3) Korean Webtoons are visualized awesomely, just like how art in comics would be but in a wholly digital form.
4) Korean Webtoons are not heavy on words. The dialogues aren’t complicated or rambling, and, again, the visual images are always there to give you the context clearly.
5) You get to choose how fast or slow you read it. If you’re reading a caption five times before you’re ready to move on, that’s okay, and you’re in full control to do so.
6) They tell stories about Korean culture. Like Korean dramas and movies, you’ll learn more about South Korea and Korean culture through webtoons.
7) Korean Webtoons are entertaining! And for that simple reason, you’d enjoy reading them. Many favorite Korean webtoons have also been made into movies and dramas, doubling the fun of consuming them.
What is the most famous Webtoon?
It may be impossible to point to a single webtoon as there are incredibly many options for you to choose from when choosing great Korean webtoons. They come in all shapes and sizes today, meaning there are various genres and stories to choose from. But to help narrow down your options, we’ve included below a few that are especially popular or we otherwise think could offer you a great experience to the readers and fans.
Along with the Gods (신과 함께 ㅣ singwa hamkke)
This Korean webtoon is especially intriguing as it has a structure of three different stories, each of which are released separately, taking place in their own world. The first story focuses on the underworld, the second one takes place in the world of the living, and the third story tells you about the gods. Two movies have been made of this webtoon, making each movie popular up to this date!
Misaeng (미생)
The English translation of misaeng (미생) would be “Incomplete life.” It tells the story of Jang Geurae, who after failing at his first career, begins working in an office, despite having no qualifications for the job. His story depicts many different aspects of a regular office worker’s life in Korea. That’s why this Korean webtoon became so popular a TV series starring the Kpop idol Im Siwan from ZE:A was created, also reaching explosive popularity among viewers.
Lookism (외모지상주의 ㅣ oemojisangjuui)
Lookism is an interesting story of a school student who is often regarded as the ugliest student in his school. However, his life changes entirely when he happens to acquire a second body, of someone who is seemed incredibly handsome, even perfect. This high school student then can change between his two bodies by going to sleep, leading him into interesting situations.
Noblesse (노블레스 ㅣ nobeulleseu)
At the center of Noblesse, a fantasy Korean webtoon is a character named Rai, who has to start attending present-day high school after 820 years in slumber. Not only does he have to navigate the life of an ordinary high school student, but he continues to find himself in the middle of various adventures.
True Beauty (여신강림 ㅣ yeosingangnim)
This romance Korean webtoon tells the story of a shy teenage girl who becomes a pretty girl sensation in her school overnight after mastering the art of make-up by binge-watching several online beauty videos. Now she has to keep her true identity a secret and worries whether the cute guy she has her eyes on could handle knowing who she truly is. The Korean drama version of this webtoon is as entertaining to watch!
My Secret Brother (말할 수 없는 남매 ㅣ malhal su eomneun nammae)
On her very first day of starting at a new school, Hanmi tells a lie for the sake of getting somebody’s attention. Unfortunately, she had not thought of how far that lie would carry. And now she’s finding herself in a situation where the whole school thinks she’s dating Junhyuk. The problem in the story is, Junhyuk is actually her brother!
My ID is Gangnam Beauty! (신의 탑 ㅣ nae IDneun gangnammiin)
Another Korean webtoon that has also been turned into a Korean drama series, at the focus of this story is a young woman named Kang Mirae. Because she has received humiliation due to her appearance, she decides to have plastic surgery. However, at university, she now ends up being ridiculed for that plastic surgery. Over the course of the webtoon, she journeys on to find and build her self-esteem, and perhaps even romance? This popular webtoon has gained popularity and has been adapted as a Korean drama.
Tower of God (신의 탑ㅣsin ui tap)
This story revolves around Twenty-Fifth Bam, a boy who spent most of his life alone in an enclosed structure called “The Tower” until he met a friend, Rachel. She has already decided to climb up the Tower, even if it means leaving Bam behind. He soon follows Rachel towards the top of the Tower, and he eventually learns things about himself along the way.
Tales of the Unusual (기기괴괴 | gigigoegoe)
If you’re a fan of the horror genre comics, you’ll surely love this. This webtoon features stories of characters experiencing different events, most of which are unusual and related to urban legends, paranormal experiences, and supernatural phenomena. A Japanese TV series was also created based on this webtoon.
Where can I read Korean Webtoons?
Now that you have a list of Korean webtoons to read, here are some websites that you can check out for the best webtoons available. These are also available in English, so navigating through these platforms will be easy.
Top Websites to Find Korean Webtoons in English
There are a few central sites from where you can find these Korean webtoon series to read.
Naver Webtoon – One of the original sites from where the journey of the Korean webtoon industry started.
Daum Webtoon – Daum Webtoon is another popular webtoon platform where most Korean webtoons were first published at.
KakaoPage – KakaoTalk’s own webtoon platform for Korean webtoons and more.
Toomics – A great resource for finding popular webtoons in English.
Lezhin Comics – Lezhin comics is another excellent site for reading Korean webtoons in English.
Naver Webtoon is considered one of the sites that started Korean webtoons and was launched in Korea in 2004. In 2014, the brand was launched on a global scale as LINE Webtoon. Naver is also the largest platform in Korea when it comes to webtoons.
Since Naver Webtoon is also available in different languages, it’s also labeled differently in some countries. Naver Webtoon is called “Webtoon” in languages such as English, French, Indonesian, Spanish, Thai, and German. However, in Japanese, it’s called “LINE Manga,” while in Chinese, they’re “Dongman Manhua” and “Webtoon.”
Fans of Korean webtoons find it easy to navigate this platform even on their phones. They have an app that you can use to either download the webtoon for offline use or view it online. The best part about this is readers can access it for free!
Korean Webtoon Genres
There are several webtoon genres available that you can read, depending on your preference. We have listed the common ones that you’ll see along with the titles of some popular webtoons in these genres.
This genre usually depicts stories between two main characters who are attracted to each other. A romance genre is often paired with another genre like drama, comedy, or fantasy. Some popular webtoons under this genre are True Beauty, Love Olympus, and Cheese in the Trap.
Korean Webtoon Horror
Another popular webtoon genre is horror. Even if a webtoon is not animated or doesn’t have the sound effects in a movie, it can still be terrifying. Tales of the Unusual and Sweet Home are horror webtoons that you must read if you love horror. Sweet Home also even has a Korean series adaptation that you can watch on Netflix.
Korean Webtoon Slice 0f Life
Compared to other genres like fantasy or horror, or even some scenes that you can find in romance webtoons, a slice of life genre tends to be more simple with relatable events and characters. Since readers can relate to it, it naturally becomes popular to many too. Some must-read webtoons under this genre are My Giant Nerd Boyfriend and Blue Chair.
Korean Webtoon Comedy
Webtoons bring a huge deal of entertainment, especially ones that make you laugh out loud! Webtoons such as Adventures of God and Cursed Princess Club are ones you should check out if you want a good laugh.
Korean Webtoon Fantasy
Fantasy genres bring you to a whole other world just by reading. These webtoons are usually exciting because you’ll never know what will happen. Everything is possible, definitely. If you want an escape from real life, you can check out Tower of God and Noblesse.
Korean Webtoons vs. Japanese Manga
Both Korean webtoons and Japanese manga bring entertainment to their readers through stories with amazing visual art. But what makes them different? First, Korean webtoons are mostly accessible on the web only. This means that there are no printed copies available unless artists make a deal with a publishing company. On the other hand, Japanese mangas are more traditional and are normally printed but are also becoming available digitally in recent years.
Another noticeable difference between the two is their reading format. Korean webtoons are in a vertical format, so you will be scrolling downwards as you progress. The reason behind this is to make it easy to read on the phone – plus, their digital format makes it easier to carry along than a book. Japanese manga is read from right to left, so the first page is at the usual last page of a book.
Lastly, some Korean webtoons and Japanese mangas may also have adaptations. Normally, Korean webtoons are adapted as Korean dramas or movies, while mangas have their own version of anime adaptations.
Have you ever read a Korean webtoon before? You might have come across one first from platforms like Daum Webtoon or Lezhin Comics. If not, which sites have you read webtoons from? What did you think of them? Let us know below in the comments! If you would like to discover some more Korean popular media, check out our recommendations on Kpop, Kdramas, and Korean movies.
Learn to read Korean and be having simple conversations, taking taxis and ordering in Korean within a week with our FREE Hangeul Hacks series: http://www.90DayKorean.com/learn
A Replica of the Hanging Painting of Janggoksa Temple (National Treasure #300)
Introduction
In yet another post about Korean Buddhist temple artwork, I thought I would discuss the Gwaebul, which is a “Large Buddhist Banner Painting” in English. So where can you find this rarely seen piece of temple artwork? What does it look like? And why do you find it at a Korean Buddhist temple?
The Gwaebul
A “Gwaebul – 괘불” is a large hanging mural that can be over fifteen metres in height and ten metres in width. Gwaebul are rarely seen, as they are typically only put on display once a year during Buddha’s Birthday festivities. At some temples, a Gwaebul is only put on display once every ten years during these festivities.
The production of Gwaebul became a large expense and effort not only for the temple but for the community. As a result, the rituals performed at local temples served to address, through the visual aid and support of the Gwaebul, to deal with local, rather than national, concerns. For example, the feeding of locals and the rain required to grow crops (more on that later from the Gwaebul at Geumdangsa Temple).
A replica of the Hanging Painting of Geumdangsa Temple (K.T. #1266).
The oldest Gwaebul still in existence dates back to 1622 at Jukrimsa Temple in Naju, Jeollanam-do. In comparison to other Gwaebul, it’s rather small and simple in composition. This Gwaebul depicts a lone Seokgamoni-bul image making the mudra of “Touching the Earth.”
In total, there were twenty-three Gwaebul made during the 17th century. There were an additional twenty-two made during the 18th century. And there were thirteen subsequent Gwaebul painted in the 19th century, followed by four more during the early part of the 20th century.
These hanging murals are typically quite large in size. The reason for their amazing size is that they are meant to be put on display outdoors during large gatherings that would commonly attract several hundreds, to even thousands, of people. These large crowds of worshipers would help raise funds for the temple. The Gwaebul is hung from tall support poles in the main temple courtyard. And when a Gwaebul isn’t being used for special festivities, they are folded up and stored inside a temple shrine hall. Most typically, they are housed somewhere inside the main hall; and usually, under the main altar.
Gwaebul Design
Because of the Gwaebul’s large size, it’s typically filled with a lot of intricate designs and details. Traditionally, a large Buddha is the dominating central figure in the hanging painting. This Buddha is then surrounded by various Bodhisattvas, Nahan (The Historical Disciples of the Buddha), and various guardians like the Sacheonwang (The Four Heavenly Kings). These images are often depicting a scene from an important sutra. The central Buddha is typically Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha), Amita-bul (The Buddha of the Western Paradise), or even Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion) in some rare cases. The earliest Gwaebul hanging paintings often depict the Assembly at Vulture Peak, as they were meant to represent the Buddha, Seokgamoni-bul, in a contemporary world. In this style of painting, Seokgamoni-bul is seen preaching theLotus Sutra.
A modern Gwaebul at Tongdosa Temple in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do.
A closer look at this amazing painting.
Historically, early Gwaebul hanging paintings are quite crowded in style and composition. These Gwaebul more closely resembled altar paintings (taenghwa) of “The Sermon on Vulture Peak Painting, or “Yeongsan Hoesang-do: 영산 회상도” in Korean. Starting in the 18th century, Gwaebul became taller and simpler in design. A great example of this can be found at Tongdosa Temple with the Hanging Painting of Tongdosa Temple (Sakyamuni Buddha), which is Korean Treasure #1350. The Gwaebul at Tongdosa Temple was painted in 1767. In this style of later century Gwaebul, the single image of Seokgamoni-bul has a dual purpose as a protector and a teacher.
In addition to these seven National Treasures, there are forty-seven other Gwaebul that are Korean Treasures, and an additional eight Gwaebul that are National Registered Cultural Heritage. Of these Korean Treasures, the Gwaebul from Geumdangsa Temple in Jinan, Jeollabuk-do, that was first painted in 1682, is especially beautiful. Legend states of this Gwaebul that villagers performed rituals in front of it and rain fell, which successfully ended a long standing drought in the region. The Gwaebul at Geumdangsa Temple, which is officially known as Hanging Painting of Geumdangsa Temple, is Korean Treasure #1266.
A Gwaebul from Heungguksa Temple in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do which can be found in Seoul at the National Museum of Korea.
If you’re planning to make the excellent choice to move to Korea one day, then you’ve probably asked yourself this question. Do you actually need to actually learn Korean to live in Korea? Can you survive day-to-day without being able to speak what is, arguably, a very different language to many other languages in the world.
Well, the short answer is… yes. Of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. Living in Korea as an expat and not knowing the language is definitely possible, but there are times when you’ll be left speechless and struggling.
Find out how far a basic knowledge of Korean will take you, as I show with examples from my own personal experience of living in Korea since 2015. Did I quickly learn Korean to live in Korea more easily? Ahem…
Read on to find out the answer. You might also pick up a few basic Korean phrases and realise you know more Korean than you thought!
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Should You Learn Korean To Live In Korea?
Do you need to learn Korean to live in Korea?
No.
That’s my conclusion after living in Korea for 6 years and seeing plenty of other expats getting by just fine but not being able to hold a conversation in the local language.
Learning Korean will make your social life richer, increase job opportunities, and help you in so many situations.
Should you learn Korean to live in Korea?
Absolutely.
Learning Korean when you live in Korea will open up so many doors for you and make your social life richer, increase your job opportunities, and help you in so many day-to-day situations.
There are many situations where you’ll absolutely need to speak Korean or have a very kind Korean friend to help you.
At the very least you should know hangul (the Korean alphabet) and some basic Korean phrases if you want to travel to Korea or live here.
Whilst there are many reasons that you don’t have to learn Korean to live in Korea, there are also many situations where you’ll absolutely need to speak Korean or have a very kind Korean friend to help you. I’ll list some of these later on in this article.
Before I talk about why and how you should learn Korean to live in Korea now or in the future, I want to share my own story and my experience learning Korean in Korea.
Have I Learnt Korean While Living In Korea?
I’ll be honest, after 6 years of living in Korea, I haven’t learnt that much Korean. I can get by, but I’m not exactly comfortable holding a deep conversation in Korean.
When I moved to Korea in 2015, I started learning Korean quite enthusiastically. I was studying during breaks at work and attended evening classes twice a week. I also used some apps, such as Memrise, to help me practice reading and memorising Korean.
I managed to learn hangul (the Korean alphabet) before moving to Korea, and that was a really helpful first step. If you want to learn Korean to live in Korea, definitely start with this and move on to vocabulary and grammar afterwards.
I’m not exactly comfortable holding a deep conversation in Korean.
Regrettably, a couple of situations arose that derailed my Korean learning. Firstly, I started an online MA TESOL course to become a better teacher. This ate up a lot of my free time for several years.
Secondly, I had a long commute and the bus schedule moved back so that I couldn’t get to my evening classes in time and I had to stop them.
Thirdly, and perhaps most consequential, I started dating a wonderful Korean woman and ended up becoming lazy with my Korean practice, depending too much on my partner to help me with serious language issues.
I started dating… and ended up becoming lazy with my Korean practice…
Dating in Korea, I believe, can either spur you on to greater learning, or it can lead you into complacency and harm your language development. I’ll talk more about dating later on.
Even though I stopped actively learning Korean, I have still developed my Korean skills passively. This has helped my range of vocabulary increase, but hasn’t done much for my grammar.
It’s hard to live in Korea and not learn some Korean as you move around day to day. From signposts to song-lyrics, slogans to menus, you’re constantly exposed to Korean and some of that seeps into your brain and stays there.
So, do you need to learn Korean to live in Korea? Yes, you really do. I’ve been lucky enough to survive this long, but now I’m determined to refocus my efforts on learning Korean.
…you’re constantly exposed to Korean and some of that seeps into your brain and stays there.
After a busy year adapting to a new job working at a Korean university, as well as finishing my master’s degree (finally!), I’m ready to master Korean at last. Fighting!
My plan is to sign up for online classes through 90 Day Korean – a company I’ve worked with for a while now and would recommend. I’ve learnt through their free programmes before, but now plan to sign up for their premium, guided course to help me learn Korean more quickly.
I’ll be sure to write about my learning experience later on, so be sure to check back for future updates on my (hopefully) successful studies.
The next couple of sections should help you understand how you can live in Korea without learning Korean fully, as well as other situations where you’ll definitely need a Korean speaker to help you live life.
5 Reasons Why You Don’t Need To Learn Korean To Live In Korea
If you’ve ever visited another country and managed to book hotels, buy food, visit attractions, and travel on public transport without learning the local language, then you’re probably able to live in Korea without learning Korean.
Living in another country, be it Korea or elsewhere, is mostly the same as living in your own country. You will buy groceries, go to work, meet friends, travel around, watch TV, and wonder where all your money has gone each month.
There are so many things that we already know how to do… that are easy to transfer to living in another country.
If you know the basic idea of how to do these things, you can often do them without needing to know the language everyone is speaking around you.
Want to buy fruit from a supermarket? Pick it up and put it in your basket. Want to drink coffee in a cafe? Point at what you want, pay, sit down, and enjoy it. Need to get a haircut? Well… shave your head like I do, it’s easier.
There are so many things that we already know how to do through our life in our homelands that are easy to transfer to living in another country.
In regards to life in Korea, here are 5 good reasons why you don’t need to learn Korean to live in Korea. This also applies to people who want to travel to Korea.
1: There Are Many English Speakers In Korea
You might not know it if you walked around Seoul, but a lot of people can actually speak English at quite a good level.
If you need help, you can often try asking in English and you’ll likely manage to communicate even if you don’t know much Korean.
English is a required subject at school, and many Korean students start learning it from elementary school or before.
As an English teacher, I certainly know that the level of English varies a lot, but most people under the age of 40 will have had several years of exposure to English education.
They’ll also have a whole lifetime of exposure to English words in their everyday life, as you’ll see in the next point.
2: English Translations Are Common
English is literally everywhere in Korea. Shop signs, signposts, adverts, packaging, clothing, menus, train announcements, and many other places. You’ll find English wherever you go.
You’ll actually find more English than Korean in some places. Look around a pharmacy or supermarket and there are so many English brand names and descriptions, it makes me wonder how Korean people know what they’re buying.
Unfortunately, the English used in some places isn’t always…accurate. This results in ‘Konglish‘, which makes for some very funny pictures as you explore Korea.
Not only can you see many signs in English, there are a lot of cognates – loan words – from English that make it easier to learn and speak Korean.
There are hundreds of words in Korean that are based on English. For example, you can already say these words in Korean:
computer 컴퓨터 (kom-pyu-ta)
Ice cream 아이스크림 (a-i-su-ku-rim)
Taxi 텍시 (tek-shi)
McDonald’s 맥도날드스 (Mek-do-nal-du-su)
Coffee 커피 (ko-pi)
That’s why learning hangul (Korean alphabet) is really, really helpful if you want to visit or live in Korea.
It’ll help you decipher all of these loan words and you’ll be ordering 피자 (pi-ja) and 콜라 (ko-ra) for dinner with ease.
4: You Can Use Translation Apps In Most Situations
When I visited Beijing in 2017, I didn’t speak a word Mandarin, yet managed to book tours, eat out, and give directions to a taxi driver. Even when they didn’t speak English.
Translation apps such as Google Translate and Papago, whilst still far from perfect, are getting better at bridging the language gap.
Translation apps… are probably the reason my Korean isn’t good.
Not sure what the word for plastic bag is while you’re shopping? Tap it into the translation app. Want to explain that you have a headache at the clinic? Type it in English and show it to the receptionist so they can read it in Korean.
Translation apps have helped me countless times and are probably the main reason my Korean isn’t as good as my Japanese (which I learnt whilst living in Japan for 3 years) – they weren’t as common when I lived there.
As a tourist or expat, make sure you have access to one wherever you go.
5: You Can Get By With Only Basic Korean Phrases
Once you’ve mastered the basics of a language, it’s amazing how much you can do. As an English teacher, I always remind my students that. And as an expat in Korea who has survived on the basics for so long, I can definitely confirm it.
Phrases such as these can be used in countless situations:
How much is this?
Where is ~?
I’m sorry, I don’t know.
Do you speak English?
Sign language and gesturing is also an important part of communication and can take the place of grammar or vocabulary that you’ve not got around to learning.
For example, if you enter a shop and want to know how much something is, you can point to it and ask 얼마예요? (ol-ma-yeh-yo) – how much is it? You don’t need to know the word of the thing you’re asking about.
Always mind your P’s and Q’s first when learning a language, as I was taught as a kid. For those that don’t know that expression, it means to mind your manners.
Basically, learn to say please and thank you – something you’ll need to live in Korea happily.
If you want to know more about basic phrases that’ll help you shop, eat out, travel, and be polite, definitely read my guide below:
5 Times When You’ll Definitely Need Help With Korean
Although you can live in Korea with basic Korean, there are certainly times when you’ll need a marvellous person to help you navigate the pitfalls of linguistic ignorance.
These are 5 situations that I’ve experienced while living in Korea where I needed help. There are definitely more instances than this, but these should give you a good enough idea of why you should learn Korean to live in Korea.
1: When Filling In Documents
Reading and writing are two very different skills, just as listening and speaking are. This is the difference between receptive (taking in) and productive (putting out) language skills and most people find it easier to take in than put out.
So when it comes to having to fill in a document at a bank, hospital, immigration office, or similar place, a knowledge of Korean is invaluable.
Hangul isn’t hard to learn to read and write, but knowing what to write and how to write are also very different and when faced with a block of Korean text with many instructions. It’s easy to panic.
2: When Doing Your Tax Returns
Taxes aren’t a lot of fun in any country. Try doing them in another country and in another language!
I’ve got to say, the Korean tax system is incredibly convenient thanks to a centralised system that links your bank account, phone number, and tax records into one so you can download all your relevant tax information with the push of a button.
You really don’t want to mess up something as important as a tax return…
Claiming exemptions, filling in forms, knowing where to sign, working out if your tax is correct, and many other aspects of the process, however, are not as fun.
You really don’t want to mess up something as important as a tax return, especially if it costs you money in the end.
So either learn Korean or pay for an accountant who can do it for you. Or, beg the lovely people you work with to help you out, as I do.
3: If You Start Dating A Korean Person
As mentioned before, one of the reasons I didn’t get around to continuing my Korean studies was because I was lucky enough to start dating my amazing Korean girlfriend.
If your partner speaks both your native language and Korean, dating can take away the urgent need to learn Korean. Especially if your partner is kind enough to help you do those tricky language-dependent things you can’t yet do.
Of course, the opposite is also true – it’ll increase your need to learn Korean. Romance without true communication can lead to many problems and miscommunication is a big issue for couples who speak different native languages.
And then there’s the family in law. You’d best learn some super-polite Korean expressions when speaking to your parents-in-law or you’ll never be invited to the family celebrations!
For more (not so serious) issues you might find dating in Korea, check out this article:
There’s nothing worse than being sick in a foreign country and not knowing how to ask for help. You either need to rely on the kindness of strangers or friends, or you need to be able to explain what’s wrong by yourself.
Booking medical appointments and checkups can also be difficult without a good level of Korean, as I rediscovered when I wanted to book a vaccination appointment recently.
For most minor trips to see a doctor, however, you can often get away with basic Korean skills and a translation app.
Doctors and nurses have to study English as part of their studies at medical school and should be able to communicate with you about basic medical problems. That doesn’t mean they can speak English, however.
5: If You Get In Trouble
I really hope this doesn’t happen to you, but can you imagine getting arrested in another country and not being able to speak the language.
This hasn’t happened to me in Korea (yet), but I’ve had run-ins with the police in other countries (in Japan for riding with earphones in). Not being able to understand what’s happening can be frightening and, worse yet, can lead you into more trouble.
I don’t recommend breaking the law any time soon. Why not learn Korean instead? It’s probably going to be better in the long run.
The next section will give you a few ideas about how to do that.
How Can I Learn Korean While Living In Korea
There are countless ways to learn Korean. I’d recommend trying a few different ones and see what works best for you.
Different people learn in different ways, but the truth about language development is that you have to be consistent and work hard.
To learn Korean, I would recommend these methods:
Korean Language Apps
Learning Korean doesn’t need to take up hours each day. If want to learn Korean living in Korea, or in other countries, you can do it while you ride the bus, sit on the toilet, or have a snack. Apps such as Memrise, Duolingo, KORLINK, and many others can help you learn at your own pace. These are great for learning to read hangul, too.
Online Courses
Courses, such as the one by 90-Day Korean, can guide you through the language learning experience. Start with the basics and progress through the levels until you are ready for real-life conversation. Of course, you should try to get a mix of online and offline learning for the best results. Another online courses that I’d recommend is Talk To Me In Korean.
Language Classes
If you live in a big city in Korea, there’s probably a community-based language course where you can learn Korean for a low price (or free). Check out your local government’s website to find one.
You can also sign up for Korean classes at universities in Korea and study for a month or more. This’ll help you learn Korean quickly. If you’re not sure if you need to learn Korean to live in Korea, then a language exchange like this can help you know for sure.
Language Exchanges
There are plenty of language exchange groups on Facebook. Chat in Korean and then chat in English. Mix with locals and foreigners and develop your own skills as you help others learn your own language. These aren’t just for English-Korean exchanges, they often include other languages, too.
Private Tuition
If you can afford it, find someone to give you one-to-one lessons at least once or twice a week. This will help people with low confidence to speak in public, people who need a tailored course, and people who like to ask lots of questions as they learn.
Practice Speaking When Possible
Talk. Talk to friends, talk to co-workers, chat with the ajumma at the market, practice using Korean in any situation you can. If you want to learn Korean to live in Korea, then using it in your daily life is the most useful way to practice.
What’s It Like Living In Korea As An Expat?
If you’re thinking about moving to Korea, or want to know what life is like as an expat in Korea, then you should check out my guide to expat life in Korea.
It talks about what’s good (and not so easy) about living in Korea, as well as how to survive and thrive in the Land of the Morning Calm.
Finally, here’s a few FAQs about whether you should learn Korean to live in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.
Do I need to learn Korean to live in Korea?
No. You can get by as an expat in Korea with a basic level of Korean for 90% of the time. However, there will definitely be times when you need the help of a Korean speaker, such as when filing taxes, booking appointments, or when dealing with the authorities.
Do people in Korea speak English?
Some do, yes. Whilst English isn’t technically a second language, it is compulsory in all levels of public school education starting from elementary school. It’s also a required subject for Korean high school students when studying for the final exams before entry to university.
Can I learn Korean in Korea?
Yes. There are many ways to learn Korean when you live in Korea. Public language courses provided by local governments, tuition-based language courses, local language exchanges, and private courses are some of the most popular methods, as well as online and app-based language programmes.
Is it mandatory to learn Korean to live in Korea?
No. There is no mandatory requirement to learn Korean to live in Korea, but it will certainly help you to adjust to life in Korea. If you intend to apply for a residency visa, then learning Korean will help you improve your overall score and chance of living in Korea.
Share Your Thoughts
If you enjoyed reading this article, or if you have any thoughts about it that you want to share, please feel free to leave a message in the comments below. I’d love to hear your feedback about this article and the subject.
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Travel tips to help you explore, travel, enjoy, and see all the joy and wonders of South Korea
When I first went to Korea I new nothing about table etiquette. I barely knew much about American table etiquette either, but that's another story.
Korean table etiquette isn't difficult to learn, but it is different than what I grew up with. While most things are obvious (don't jump on the table), some things can be less expected and require learning and practicing.
I'll share what I think are the most important parts of Korean table etiquette in my latest "Korean FAQ" episode right below.
The Three-Story Stone Pagoda at Munsusa Temple in Ulju-gun, Ulsan.
Temple History
This Munsusa Temple, which shouldn’t be confused with the dozens of other temples and hermitages with the same name on the Korean peninsula, is located in Ulju-gun, Ulsan on Mt. Munsusan (600.1 m). Originally, this mountain was called Mt. Yeongchuisan and Mt. Cheongnyangsan during the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C. – 935 A.D.) and the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), but later it was changed to Mt. Munsusan because people believed that Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) lived in this beautiful location. And much like the mountain, Munsusa Temple gets its name from Munsu-bosal.
Munsusa Temple is said to have been founded in 646 A.D. by the famed monk Jajang-yulsa (590-658 A.D.). If this date and famed monk sound familiar, they should. Jajang-yulsa is the very same monk that founded the neighbouring Tongdosa Temple in 646 A.D., as well.
There are no records related to Munsusa Temple from the Goryeo Dynasty. And over time, the temple deteriorated until the Daeung-jeon Hall was re-built in 1984. Previously, Munsusa Temple had been designated Ulsan Traditional Buddhist Temple #3 in 1973.
Munsusa Temple’s cultural assets are currently housed at the Tongdosa Temple museum. They include a stone Amita-bul statue, which is Ulsan Metropolitan City Tangible Cultural Heritage #15. Also housed at the Tongdosa Temple museum is a Taenghwa painting that dates back to 1787, and it’s Ulsan Metropolitan City Tangible Cultural Heritage #16. There is also a Jijang-bosal (Bodhisattva of the Afterlife) painting produced in 1893 and a Chilseong (Seven Stars) mural that was first painted in 1855.
Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) Myths
There is a myth called “Mugeo Seolhwa – 무거설화” in Korean. In English, “Seolhwa” means myth. In this myth, King Gyeongsun of Silla (r. 927-935) was heading to Munsusa Temple with his two sons, who just so happened to be princes, to ask about their future to Munsu-bosal. On their way to Munsusa Temple, the king met a young boy monk. The young monk asked the king where he was going, so King Gyeongsun said that he was going to meet Munsu Daeseong. The young monk told the king to follow him. Once the king and two princes passed over the Taehwa River [in modern day Ulsan], the young monk disappeared. The king realized that the heavens had given up on them, so King Gyeongsun of Silla returned to his palace and decided to surrender to King Taejo of Goryeo (r. 918-943). The spot where the young monk disappeared is called “Mugeo,” and the spot where the king came to this realization is called “Heolsujeong.”
And according to another myth found in the Samguk Yusa (Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), there’s a myth about Munsu-bosal and Byeonjae Cheonnyeo (Celestial Spirit). In this myth, there was a monk named Yeonhoi – 연회. Yeonhoi was reading the Lotus Sutra every day, and the lotus flowers were always vibrant at the temple he lived at during every seasons. One day, King Wonseong of Silla (r. 785-798) found that this was amazing, so the king wanted to ask Yeonhoi to become the national monk, or “Guksa – 국사” in Korean. Hearing this rumour, Yeonhoi ran away from the temple and over the west hill. When he arrived on the other side of the hill, there was an old man who was farming. This old man asked Yeonhoi where he was going. So Yeonhoi said, “This country tried to hold me on a leash by giving me an official position. So I’m running away from it.” The old man then asked “Why bother to go so far?” The monk was already walking away from the man while listening to his question. After he walked about two kilometres, there was an old woman standing by a stream. She said, “The old man that you just met was Munsu Daeseong. Why didn’t you listen to him?” Suddenly, the monk felt ashamed, so he hurried back to the temple and became the national monk at the palace. The old man was Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) and the old woman was Byeonjae Cheonnyeo. The hill that the monk went over is called Munsu-gogae (“Gogae” means “hill” in English). And the spot that the monk met Byeonjae Cheonnyo is called “Ani-gogae.”
Temple Layout
Munsusa Temple is situated up in the clouds of Mt. Munsusan. And to get to the temple grounds, which are located on the side of the mountain, you’ll need to make your way up a six kilometre winding mountainside road, until you eventually arrive on the outskirts of the temple grounds. The Munsusa Temple grounds appear to be precariously placed on the side of the mountain. And it’s from this vantage point that you get some amazing views of the city of Ulsan down in the valley folds below.
Before passing under the two-story Jong-ru (Bell Pavilion), you’ll first pass by the kitchen area of the temple. Just beyond the kitchen is a trail that continues to lead up to the peak of Mt. Munsusan. Also found between the kitchen and the slopes of the mountain is a path that leads up to the monk-only meditative hall. You’ll get a better view of this crowning hall from the Daeung-jeon Hall.
Finally having passed under the four pillared Jong-ru with the mid-sized Brahma Bell on the second story of the structure, you’ll be greeted by the large Daeung-jeon Hall at Munsusa Temple. Unfortunately, the front of the Daeung-jeon Hall is occupied by an ugly green Plexiglas enclosure for the numerous visitors that might visit the temple at once like during Buddha’s Birthday.
Stepping inside the Daeung-jeon Hall, and resting on the main altar, are seven statues. The central image is that of Seokgamoni-bul (The Historical Buddha). This central statue is joined on either side by a pair of tiny, golden dongja (attendant) statues. On the other side of each dongja, you’ll find statues dedicated to Munsu-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Wisdom) and Bohyeon-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Power). And rounding out the main altar collection of statues is a standing image dedicated to Jijang-bosal (The Bodhisattva of the Afterlife) to the far left and another standing image to the far right dedicated to Gwanseeum-bosal (The Bodhisattva of Compassion). And on the far left wall is a large Shinjung Taenghwa (Guardian Mural).
To the right of the Daeung-jeon Hall is the Myeongbu-jeon Hall. But before entering the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, which is dedicated to Jijang-bosal, you’ll notice a diminutive three-story pagoda placed between the two temple shrine halls. Surrounding the exterior walls to the Myeongbu-jeon Hall are some nicely rendered Shimu-do (Ox-Herding Murals). Stepping inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, you’ll be greeted by a green haired statue of a seated Jijang-bosal holding a golden staff in his left hand. But the main highlight to this shrine hall are the grotesque painted images of those being punished in the afterlife adorning the interior walls of the Myeongbu-jeon Hall. Of note, it’s the vulture eating the eyes of an individual that stands out the most in this set of grotesque paintings.
Behind the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, and up a set of stairs, is a stone courtyard with two stone statues. The faceless statue to the left is known as the Seokbul-jwasang. This faceless image is obviously much older than the neighbouring image. This stone statue was carved from the face of the mountain. Next to this historic statue is a newer statue dedicated to Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha). What’s interesting about this statue is the glass orb that’s perched atop of the medicinal stone vessel that it holds in its left hand.
The final building to the rear of the temple grounds is the Samseong-gak Hall. Inside this hall are a triad of the most popular shaman deities in the Buddhist pantheon. In the centre is an older image of Chilseong (The Seven Stars). To the right is an image of Dokseong (The Lonely Saint). And to the left hangs a painting dedicated to Sanshin (The Mountain Spirit).
How To Get There
From Ulsan, you can catch the Munsusa Temple shuttle bus from the Ulsan Gongeuptop Rotary. It leaves at 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., respectively, during the weekdays. The shuttle bus will drop you off at the Munsusa Temple parking lot. From the parking lot, you’ll have to walk an additional 500 metres to get to the temple.
Overall Rating: 7.5/10
By far, the main highlight to Munsusa Temple is its location and the view it presents to visitors. If you go on a clear day, you’ll be able to see Ulsan and the sea off in the distance. And if you go early enough, you’ll be able to see the fog slowly receding from the valley folds of Mt. Munsusan. In addition to all of this natural beauty, have a look for the amazing, and slightly terrifying, murals that adorn the interior of the Myeongbu-jeon Hall, as well as the stone statues and the shaman murals housed inside the Samseong-gak Hall.
The amazing view of Ulsan from Munsusa Temple.
The monks quarters at Munsusa Temple.
The Daeung-jeon Hall.
The Jong-ru (Bell Pavilion) as you first enter the temple grounds.
A look inside the Daeung-jeon Hall at the main altar.
The main altar inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall.
The vulture painting inside the Myeongbu-jeon Hall.
The statue of Yaksayeorae-bul (The Medicine Buddha) to the side of the Samseong-gak Hall.
And the historic faceless image known as Seokbul-jwasang.
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