Beomeosa Temple

A thousand-year-old temple nestled in the dense forest of Geumjeongsan Mountain — this is Beomeosa.

Founded in 678 during the reign of Silla's King Munmu by the monk Uisang, it's one of ten major temples of the Hwaeom school, with a history spanning more than 1,300 years. It burned down during the Imjin War and was rebuilt in 1613 through the efforts of two monks, Myojeon and Haemin, giving it the form it has today.

The name 'Beomeosa,' meaning 'heavenly fish temple,' is said to come from a legend about a fish descending from the sky to live in a well atop the mountain. The temple's approach — passing through three sequential gates, Ilju-mun, Cheonwang-mun, and Buri-mun — is especially well preserved, making it a good place to experience traditional temple architecture in full.

Ranked alongside Tongdosa and Haeinsa as one of the three great temples of the Yeongnam region, Beomeosa is also one of the major head temples of the Jogye Order.

Honestly, though, it sits some distance from downtown on the mountainside, so getting there takes a while, and if you're only interested in the temple grounds themselves, there isn't an overwhelming amount to see.

A Geumjeongsan hiking trail begins right behind the temple, so many visitors combine a temple visit with a light hike — seeing just the temple takes about 30 minutes to an hour.

Entry is free. From Beomeosa Station (Line 1), transfer to bus 90 and get off at the last stop; it's about a 10-minute walk to the temple entrance from there.