Pagodas & Buddhist Temples in South Korea

Home to the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist texts engraved on 81,258 wooden printing blocks. The wooden storage halls of Janggyeong Panjeon, designed with natural ventilation, have preserved these blocks for over 750 years.

A masterpiece of the golden age of Silla Buddhism, Bulguksa Temple sits on the slopes of Mount Toham. Its stone terraces, staircases, and pagodas — Dabotap and Seokgatap — are considered some of the finest examples of ancient Korean Buddhist art.

An artificial stone grotto on Mount Toham containing a monumental seated Buddha looking out to sea. The main Buddha statue is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art in East Asia for its perfect proportions and serene expression.

Home to the 33-meter Maitreya Buddha statue, the tallest bronze Buddha in South Korea. The temple also houses Palsangjeon, the only remaining five-story wooden pagoda in South Korea.

The Emille Bell at Gyeongju National Museum (originally from Pulguksa) is one of the largest and finest-sounding bronze bells in Asia. Weighing 18.9 tons, its deep tone can be heard from 3 km away.