Participants take part in a “temple stay” program held at the Buddhist Baekdam Temple in the county of Inje in Gangwon Province, in this undated file photo provided by the municipality. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly 350,000 people took part in South Korea’s temple stay program last year, setting a record for participation since the initiative was launched more than two decades ago, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism said Sunday.
A total of 349,219 visitors — including 293,704 South Koreans and 55,515 foreign tourists — stayed overnight at Buddhist temples across the country in 2025, a 5.1 percent increase from the previous year. The program was offered at 158 temples nationwide.
The temple stay initiative allows participants to experience monastic life, including early-morning rituals, meditation and communal meals. It was first introduced in 2002, during the FIFA World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, both to promote traditional culture and to help ease a shortage of hotel accommodations.
What began as a temporary solution has since evolved into one of the country’s most enduring cultural tourism programs. Participation has grown steadily from about 2,500 visitors at 33 temples in its first year. Since then, more than 4.18 million people have taken part.
Officials at the Jogye Order said the program’s expansion reflects growing interest in slower, contemplative forms of travel, particularly amid rising concerns over stress, burnout and mental well-being.
Looking ahead, the order said it plans to strengthen links between temple stays and regional tourism outside the Seoul metropolitan area, with the aim of supporting local economies. It also intends to develop specialized programs focused on mental health and emotional recovery, as well as initiatives designed for socially marginalized communities.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
