From Temple Cuisine to Seon Meditation: Promoting Korean Buddhism at the World Heritage Committee

Jogye Order to Host Heritage Promotion Programs at BEXCO and Beomeosa in Busan, July 19-29
Temple Cuisine Dinner at Beomeosa, K-Dessert Day, and Jingwansa Water and Land Ceremony Demonstration to be Featured

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism is operating exhibition and experiential programs to promote Korean Buddhist cultural heritage in conjunction with the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session held in Busan.

Summer scenery of the Geumgang Gyedan at Tongdosa Temple, a World Heritage site. During the World Heritage Committee session, the Jogye Order operates a Korean Buddhist cultural heritage exhibition and promotion booth at the BEXCO Korea Pavilion, introducing Tongdosa Temple, Haeinsa Temple's Janggyeong Panjeon and the Tripitaka Koreana, and "Sansa, Korean Mountain Monasteries." Jogye Order

The Jogye Order announced on the 6th that, under the theme "Korean Buddhist Cultural Heritage: Communicating with the World," it will host a Buddhist cultural heritage exhibition and promotional booth, a temple cuisine dinner, a Seon meditation experience, and a demonstration of the Water and Land Ceremony during the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session to be held in Busan from July 19 to 29. This is the first time the World Heritage Committee session is being held in Korea.

The Jogye Order prepared these programs in consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Cultural Heritage Administration, and the World Heritage Committee Preparatory Planning Group. The aim is to introduce the values and spirit of Korean Buddhist culture to delegations from the States Parties and Committee members, expert groups, and civic organizations participating in the World Heritage Committee.

First, from July 19 to 29, an exhibition and promotional booth for Korean Buddhist cultural heritage will be operated at the K-Heritage House, Korea Pavilion inside BEXCO. The exhibition will introduce World Heritage Sites such as Tongdosa, Haeinsa Janggyeong Panjeon and the Tripitaka Koreana, as well as "Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea," and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Water and Land Ceremony (Gukhaeng Suryeokjae).

The booth area will comprise a total of 24 separate sections. The Department of Culture of the Jogye Order will introduce the seven temples designated as "Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea," and Tongdosa will operate its own World Heritage promotional booth. Haeinsa will feature the Tripitaka Koreana, while Jingwansa will showcase the Water and Land Ceremony, designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, and offer a paper flower-making experience.

Temple cuisine will also be one of the main programs. On July 27 at 7:30 p.m., a temple cuisine dinner for major country delegations participating in the World Heritage Committee will be hosted by the President of the Jogye Order at the Seon Culture Experience Center at Beomeosa Temple in Busan. Approximately 90 delegates from 21 Committee member states and Buddhist-affiliated countries are expected to be invited.

Temple food table setting. During the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism will host a temple food dinner for delegations from major countries at Beomeosa Temple in Busan. At the conference venue, a ‘K-Dessert Day’ showcasing temple food refreshments and finger foods will be held. Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism

The Jogye Order explained that temple cuisine "embodies the spirit of practice that leads one to break free from attachment, realize that all life relies on each other, and create a harmonious world of coexistence." Temple cuisine was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2025.

On July 26, a "K-Dessert Day" will be held in the lounge next to the conference hall for all participants. The event will feature temple cuisine refreshments and finger foods, allowing participants of the World Heritage Committee to easily experience Korean temple food.

A Seon meditation experience program will also be offered. On July 26, it will be conducted twice for World Heritage Committee participants, led by Monk Hyeju. Through this program, the Jogye Order plans to introduce the status and value of K-Seon meditation to global experts.

A demonstration of Jingwansa's Water and Land Ceremony, an Intangible Cultural Heritage, will also be held. From July 26 to 28, the demonstration will take place every day at 2:30 p.m. for 30 minutes on the stage inside BEXCO for all participants. The Water and Land Ceremony is a Buddhist ritual that consoles wandering spirits on water and land and prays for peace for all beings.

There will also be tour programs to visit World Heritage temples and traditional temples in Busan. Led by the Korean Temple Stay Foundation, special tours for World Heritage Committee participants and foreign media will be arranged at Tongdosa, Bulguksa, Seokguram, Haeinsa, Beomeosa, and other sites.

A representative of the Jogye Order stated, "We hope this will be an opportunity for the tangible and intangible assets that Korean Buddhism has preserved and passed down for a long time to be recognized as a shared asset of humanity," adding, "We also wish for this World Heritage Committee session to become a venue for harmony, where cultural and traditional values from around the world are understood and respected through communication and empathy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.