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Gilsangsa Temple (Seoul) (길상사(서울))

Gilsangsa Temple (Seoul) (길상사(서울)) · © KTO · KOGL Type 1

Seoul

Gilsangsa Temple (Seoul) (길상사(서울))

Gilsangsa Temple) is a curated attraction in Korea — full details, hours, and access info on the official Korea Tourism page.

ROOTHEALIconic stop curated by Korea Tourism OrganizationSeoul's distinctive city pulseEnglish-friendly

Why go

Gilsangsa is a Korean Buddhist temple in Seoul's Seongbuk-dong, with a unique history — the property was originally a famous high-end traditional Korean restaurant during the colonial and post-war periods, donated to the Buddhist community by its owner Kim Yeong-han in 1995 to become a temple. The temple has traditional Korean Buddhist architecture, prayer halls, and a quiet hillside-neighborhood setting. For travelers based in Seoul and serious about Korean Buddhism with an unusual modern-history backstory, Gilsangsa is one of the cleaner specialty single picks.

Quick highlights

  • Buddhist temple in Seongbuk-dong Seoul
  • Former famous Korean restaurant
  • Donated to Buddhist community in 1995
  • Hillside neighborhood setting
  • Pairs with Seongbuk cultural circuit

Nearby best pairs

Other places in Seoul that pair well with this visit.