Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju

최옥석 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Korea's oldest wooden building, its swelling columns holding a roof above range upon range of mountains.

Buseoksa's Muryangsujeon was rebuilt in 1376 and is among the oldest wooden buildings still standing in Korea. What fascinates architects are the columns: they swell at the middle and taper at both ends — entasis, the same correction the ancient Greeks used — so the eye does not read them as pinched. Leaning on the rail in front of the hall you look down over a sea of Sobaeksan ridges fading paler into the distance, which is why people say Buseoksa has the finest view of any Korean temple. The name means 'floating stone', after the large rock beside the hall that legend says once hung in the air.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju?

October–November (autumn colour)

How much does it cost to visit Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju?

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

How long do you need at Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju?

2 hours

What are the opening hours of Buseoksa Temple, Yeongju?

08:00–18:00

Did you know

Muryangsujeon hall was rebuilt in 1376 and is among Korea's oldest wooden structures.
Its columns use entasis — a swelling at the middle of the shaft.
Inscribed by UNESCO in 2018 as part of the Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries of Korea.
The name means 'floating stone', after the rock beside the main hall.

Travel tips

Reaching the hall means climbing a lot of stone steps; allow an extra 20 minutes.
Late afternoon, with the light raking across the ridges, is the best hour.
Yeongju is far from the other sights — you really want your own car.

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

Updated: 2026-08-04