Uisangdae Pavilion

Uisangdae Pavilion of Naksansa Temple is a wooden hexagonal pavilion built on the cliff edge above the East Sea, named for the Silla monk Uisang who founded Naksansa in 671. The current pavilion dates to the 1920s but the spot itself has been a meditation point for over thirteen centuries — it's one of the few places in Korea positioned to capture the very first light of sunrise over the open ocean. New Year's Day mornings draw thousands. On other days the cliff and pavilion are quiet, and a short trail connects them with the broader Naksansa compound and the giant Haesugwaneum (Sea-Gazing Goddess of Mercy) statue. Allow ninety minutes for the full visit.