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Experience Korean Temple Culture in Style This Fall! “Fall Temple Festa” to Take Place in Busan

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Chun Jae-soo) announced that it will host the “Fall Temple Festa,” a unique experiential K-tourism event combining traditional Buddhist temples, temple cuisine, and performances, in partnership with the Busan Tourism Organization. The event will take place at Hongbeopsa Temple in Geumjeong-gu on October 30 and 31.

The festival aims to offer visitors a distinctive experience by reimagining traditional temples not simply as places for sightseeing, but as immersive tourism destinations where visitors can spend time enjoying temple cuisine, performances, and meditation.

The event will run from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on both days. For visitors’ convenience, shuttle buses will operate between Nopo Station on the Busan Metro and Hongbeopsa Temple.

As K-culture continues to gain popularity worldwide, demand for tourism experiences that offer firsthand encounters with Korea’s distinctive cultural heritage is growing. Against this backdrop, Buddhist temples, with their long histories and traditions, are attracting attention as a new form of K-tourism content.

Temple experiences, particularly temple stays and meditation, are drawing interest from domestic and international tourists as wellness tourism increasingly emphasizes healing and well-being. Among young Koreans, Buddhism is also being reinterpreted as a trendy culture through its integration with merchandise, fashion, and meditation.

Meanwhile, as food cultures emphasizing health and sustainability become more widespread, Korean temple cuisine, which uses seasonal ingredients to highlight their natural flavors without meat, is gaining recognition as a form of K-vegan gastronomy.

Held at Hongbeopsa Temple, home to the largest Amitabha Buddha statue in Korea, the festival will feature 12 temple-themed programs offering visitors opportunities to discover the diverse appeal of Korean Buddhist temple culture, from culinary experiences featuring temple cuisine to autumn evening concerts, meditation, and healing activities.

All programs are open to the public free of charge, except for the paid “Temple Experience Package.”

The festival will first offer special culinary programs presented by Venerable Daean, a master of Korean temple cuisine.

Venerable Daean has devoted considerable effort to popularizing temple cuisine and recently became widely known through the television program “Chefs of the Temple Kitchen.”

During the festival, an exhibition titled “Temple Cuisine Showcase” will feature 108 temple dishes prepared by Venerable Daean. The master will also share the philosophy and wisdom behind temple cuisine through a lecture titled “Temple Cuisine and Natural Healing.”

Visitors can enjoy specially prepared “Master’s Lunchboxes” by Venerable Daean through advance reservations for the Temple Experience Package. Reservations will open on NOL at 10:00 a.m. today (October 14).

After sunset, the lawn at Hongbeopsa Temple will transform into a special outdoor performance venue, softly illuminated by traditional lotus lanterns and decorative lights.

The evening will begin with “Temple Lights of Hope,” a countdown and lighting ceremony in which participants illuminate lanterns carrying wishes for peace. This will be followed by “Temple Evening Glow,” an outdoor concert celebrating the atmosphere of an autumn evening.

Singer-songwriter Kwak Jin-eon (October 30) and acoustic duo Sanmanhan Siseon (October 31) will perform, filling the autumn evenings with heartfelt melodies.

A variety of Buddhist temple cultural experiences will also be available, allowing visitors to step away from their busy daily routines and relax both body and mind.

Through “Temple Tranquility,” featuring healing meditation and singing bowl experiences, and “Temple Letting Go,” featuring the practice of 108 prostrations, participants can set aside everyday distractions and take time for self-reflection.

“Temple Walk” will offer visitors an opportunity to stroll around the temple grounds and engage in Zen dialogues with Venerable Simsan, the head monk of Hongbeopsa Temple. “Temple Peace” will provide opportunities to discuss personal concerns and life challenges with Venerable Hyeonsu and Venerable Hyeondam.

Other activities include “Temple Tea Gathering,” where visitors can sample teas and traditional refreshments from seven Buddhist temples, and “Temple Colors,” a natural dyeing experience led by a master artisan.

Further information about the festival, including how to participate, is available on the Visit Busan website (www.visitbusan.net) and Instagram (@visitbusan.kr).

Na Yun-bin, Director-General of the Tourism Content Industry Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, said, “This festival offers an immersive experience that transforms temples into places where people can spend time and actively engage with Buddhist culture, allowing everyone to discover the appeal of Korean temples.”

Na added, “We will continue to develop distinctive tourism experiences that can only be enjoyed in Busan by making use of the city's unique cultural resources.”