"30,000 Won Per Night, Is This for Real?"... What Is the Korean Experience Drawing Foreigners?

Special Templestay for Foreigners to Run Throughout September

A "Special Templestay for Foreigners," offering an experience of Korea's traditional Buddhist culture, will be operated for a limited time.

Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation

Buddhist Cultural Experience at 19 Temples Nationwide

On July 31, the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation announced that it will run this "Special Templestay for Foreigners" program at 19 temples across the country for one month in September. During this period, foreign tourists visiting Korea and foreign residents will be able to experience Korean traditional culture and temple healing for a discounted price of 30,000 won for a one-night, two-day stay.

The participating temples are as follows: Naksansa Temple and Woljeongsa Temple in Gangwon Province; Myojeoksa Temple, Yongjoosa Temple, and Daegwangsa Temple (in Seongnam) in Gyeonggi Province; Tongdosa Temple, Haeinsa Temple, and Buddha Seonwon in Gyeongsangnam-do; Donghwasa Temple in Daegu; Beomeosa Temple in Busan; International Seon Center, Jogyesa Temple, and Hwagyesa Temple in Seoul; Daeheungsa Temple and Yeongoksa Temple in Jeollanam-do; Seonunsa Temple in Jeollabuk-do; and Magoksa Temple, Seogwangsa Temple, and Sudeoksa Temple in Chungnam.

Registration opens on a first-come, first-served basis from 1 p.m. on August 12 through the official English Templestay website.

Venerable Ilhwa, head of the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation, said, "Templestay is the most special gateway through which one can experience the 1,700-year pulse of Korean Buddhism with one's whole being," adding, "I hope everyone will be able to share the deep beauty and warm spirit of Korean Buddhism in these beautiful mountain temples."

Driven by the Popularity of 'Hip Buddhism'... Temples Attract Even the Non-Religious

Recently, the so-called "Hip Buddhism" trend and the rise in foreign tourists have fueled a steady increase in both Korean and international participants in Templestay programs. Last year, the number of participants in Templestays held at temples nationwide reached an all-time high, with a total of 349,219 people taking part at 158 Jogye Order temples around the country. Among them, 293,704 were Koreans and 55,515 were foreigners.

Templestay programs appeal not only to Buddhists but also to those without religious affiliations. According to the Korean Buddhist Cultural Foundation under the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, a satisfaction survey conducted among Templestay participants last year showed that only 9,295 people, or 33.7 percent, of the total 27,563 respondents identified themselves as Buddhists. The largest group was those with no religion at 52.5 percent, followed by Catholics at 8.2 percent and Protestants at 5.0 percent.

Among foreign participants as well, the proportion of Buddhists remained relatively low. The ratio of Buddhist foreign participants steadily increased from 5.9 percent in 2023 to 7.5 percent in 2024 and to 9.9 percent last year, but still remained in the single digits. Last year, the largest group was foreigners with no religion, accounting for 43.4 percent, followed by those of other religions at 24.5 percent, Protestants at 11.1 percent, and Catholics at 11.0 percent.

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