BUSAN — A traditional Buddhist temple is being transformed from a quiet sightseeing destination into a hands-on K-tourism venue combining temple cuisine, meditation and outdoor performances.
The Busan Metropolitan Government said it will hold "Autumn at the Temple Festa," an experience-based K-tourism program, with the Busan Tourism Organization at Hongbeopsa Temple in Geumjeong District on the 30th and 31st.
The event was designed to tap into the rise of temple stays and meditation as wellness tourism amid the global spread of Korean culture, along with growing interest in temple cuisine as K-vegan fine dining. The festival runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on both days, with shuttle buses connecting Nopo subway station and the temple for visitors' convenience.
Hongbeopsa Temple, home to the country's largest statue of Amitabha Buddha, will host 12 programs under the "Jeollo" banner, themed around temple dining, autumn evening concerts and emotional healing.
The biggest draw is a culinary session led by the Buddhist monk Daean, a recognized master of temple cuisine. Known for the television program "Chefs of the Temple Kitchen," Daean will present "Jeollo Charim," an exhibition of 108 temple dishes, and deliver a lecture titled "Temple Food and Natural Healing." Paid "Jeollo Packages," which include a boxed lunch prepared by the master, go on sale on a first-come, first-served basis on the online platform NOL at 10 a.m. on the 14th. All other programs and performances are free of charge.
Outdoor performances will add to the autumn atmosphere. A lantern-lighting ceremony called "Jeollo Binnam" will take place on a lawn plaza illuminated by lotus lanterns, followed by "Jeollo Balkim" concerts featuring singer-songwriter Kwak Jin-eon on the 30th and acoustic duo "Sanmanhan Siseon" on the 31st.
Other healing programs include singing bowl and mindfulness meditation ("Jeollo Goyo"), 108 prostrations ("Jeollo Bium"), a Zen dialogue walk with Simsan, the temple's abbot ("Jeollo Georeum"), tea-time counseling sessions with monks ("Jeollo Pyeongan"), tea ceremonies from seven temples ("Jeollo Damum") and natural dyeing ("Jeollo Chaeum").
"We expanded the traditional temple into a space to stay and experience, so that anyone can enjoy the unique appeal of Korean temples," said Na Yun-bin, director general of the Busan city government's tourism content industry bureau. "We will continue to develop differentiated tourism content that visitors can feel, drawing on Busan's own cultural resources."