Buseoksa Temple
부석사
Founded in 676 by the monk Uisang, this Hwaeom Buddhist temple is home to the Goryeo-era Amitayus Hall, one of Korea's oldest surviving wooden buildings, and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018.
Buseoksa sits at the foot of Soback Mountain in Yeongju, north of Andong. Founded in 676 by the Silla monk Uisang, it is the principal temple of the Hwaeom school of Korean Buddhism. Together with Bongjeongsa, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018 under the name 'Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea.' The National Treasure Muryangsujeon (Amitayus Hall) dates to the Goryeo period and is among the oldest wooden buildings still standing in Korea. Its most distinctive feature is the gentle swelling of the columns at mid-height, known as entasis (kwansal). The large 'floating' boulder beside the temple gives it its name. At dusk, the view from Anyangnu Pavilion over the layered ridges of Soback Mountain is a classic scene, and in autumn the ginkgo-lined path up the mountain turns golden. Admission to the cultural heritage site is now free (parking is extra). It is about 55 km from Andong city, roughly an hour's drive, and can be combined with Sosu Seowon in a day trip.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–18:00 (varies by season)
Nearby sights
- Sosu Seowon & Seonbichon
- Dosan Seowon
- Cheongnyangsan Provincial Park
- Confucian Culture Museum (Korean Studies Advancement Center)
- Ocheon Gunja Village
- Bongjeongsa Temple
- Jebiwon Stone Buddha (Icheon-dong)
- Andong Dam & Nakgang Mulgil Park