Sudeoksa Temple

Lawinc82 · CC BY-SA 3.0

A main hall built in 1308 with the date inked onto the ridge beam — a rarity in Korean timber architecture.

Most old Korean timber buildings can only be dated by inference; Sudeoksa's Daeungjeon does not need it. When it was dismantled for repair in 1937, an ink inscription giving the year 1308 was found on the ridge beam. That made it the reference point against which every other Korean timber building is measured. The hall is left unpainted, and the whole bracket system carrying the roof is exposed like a standing technical drawing. The temple sits below Deoksungsan, and up the slope is Jeonghyesa, the hermitage where Iryeop — a well-known woman writer of the early 20th century — took vows and lived out her life.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Sudeoksa Temple?

April–June and October–November

How much does it cost to visit Sudeoksa Temple?

Free (the cultural heritage fee was abolished in May 2023); parking charged separately

How long do you need at Sudeoksa Temple?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Sudeoksa Temple?

08:00–18:00

Did you know

Daeungjeon hall was built in 1308, with the date inked on the ridge beam.
National Treasure No. 49 and among Korea's oldest timber buildings.
The hall is unpainted, with the roof bracketing left exposed.
Jeonghyesa hermitage up the mountain is where the nun Iryeop practised.

Travel tips

The climb to Jeonghyesa takes about 40 minutes and the view is worth it.
Weekend templestays are offered for foreign visitors.
Combine it with Haemieupseong, about 30 minutes away by car.

Source: https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202305011106001

Updated: 2026-08-04