Beomeosa Temple, Busan: Visitor Guide

Beomeosa is a Buddhist temple on the slopes of Geumjeongsan, in the north of Busan. It is a working temple as well as a sight, so a visit is a little different from a beach or a market day. This guide covers its history, the buildings to look for, the practical details for getting in, and the etiquette the temple asks of visitors.

Every fact below comes from a named official source, checked on 30 September 2026. Where we could not confirm something, we say so in a separate list.

History

Tiled temple buildings at Beomeosa with the wooded mountain behind and chrysanthemum pots along the wall — Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) says Beomeosa was built in the Silla dynasty in 678 and is a historic site known for producing outstanding monks. The temple’s own English page says it was established in 678 by Master Uisang, during the reign of King Munmu of Silla, as one of ten Hwaeom temples in Korea. Visit Busan says it has historically nurtured many monks, and ranks it as the third largest temple in the Yeongnam area after Haeinsa and Tongdosa.

The temple’s page says the name comes from a legend of a gold-coloured fish that descended from heaven into a golden well at the top of the mountain.

What to See

Two-storey wooden pavilion at Beomeosa (not the main hall) with a stone staircase in front and a visitor climbing the steps — Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

The One Pillar Gate (Jogyemun). The temple’s page says it was built in 1614 by Master Myojeon and is National Treasure No. 1461. It says the gate symbolises leaving discriminating ideas behind on entering sacred space. Visit Busan describes it as a low gate that emphasises humility.
Daeungjeon, the main Buddha hall. Both the temple and Visit Busan list it as National Treasure No. 434. The temple’s page dates it to 1614.
The three-storey stone pagoda. Listed as National Treasure No. 250 by both sources, and described by Visit Busan as showing Unified Silla characteristics.
The setting. KTO stresses the landscape of Geumjeongsan around the temple. Visit Busan also mentions a wisteria habitat and a rock beach as natural rest areas.

Stone-walled stairway descending toward the temple roofs, framed by maple and pine branches — Photo: Korea Tourism Organization (KOGL Type 1)

Hours, Fees and Getting There

Address: 250 Beomeosa-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan (KTO).
Hours: 08:00 to 17:00 daily, open all year round (KTO and Visit Busan agree).
Admission: free (Visit Busan).
Parking: available; Visit Busan says it is charged.
Phone: +82-51-508-3122 (KTO, Visit Busan and the temple all give this number).
By public transport: Visit Busan says to take Exit 5 or 7 of Beomeosa Station on Busan Metro Line 1, transfer to bus 90 and get off at Beomeosa Parking Lot.

Visitor Etiquette

The only etiquette statement we could confirm in a fetched official source is from Visit Busan: this is an ascetic place for Buddhist monks, so please observe silence. The temple’s page also frames the One Pillar Gate as the threshold into sacred space, so it is reasonable to treat the grounds with the respect you would show in any place of worship. That last point is our suggestion, not an official rule.

Templestay

KTO says visitors can experience the daily life of a monk through templestay. The official Templestay site lists a relaxation-style programme at Beomeosa in which guests take part in Buddhist ceremonies at their own pace. As listed on the date we checked:

Price per night: adult 70,000 won, teenager 60,000 won, child 50,000 won.
Length: one or two nights on weekdays, operating from 11 January to 30 November 2026.
Where: a training centre at 20 Sangma 1-gil, Geumjeong-gu, described as 800 metres from the main temple.
Contact: reservation phone 070-7728-8861 (the temple’s own number on that page is 051-508-5726), email beomeosa@templestay.com.
House rules on that page: alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited, silence is observed, and socks should be worn during ceremonies.

The same page mentions other conditions, such as a minimum number of participants and a cancellation notice period. These are the kind of details that change, so read the current booking page before you plan around a stay.

First-time visitor tips

Our suggestion: treat it as a place of worship first and a sight second. The sources describe a working temple and ask for silence, so a quiet pace suits it better than a rushed photo stop.
Plan around the 17:00 closing time. The grounds shut at the same hour all year, and the bus from the metro adds a transfer, so an afternoon arrival leaves little margin.
Do not count on an early start from the metro. You change from Line 1 to bus 90, and we found no timetable for that bus, so allow for waiting.
Wear shoes with grip. Photos in this guide show stone steps and stairways, and the temple sits on a mountain slope.
Our suggestion: look for the three listed treasures rather than trying to see everything. The One Pillar Gate, the main hall and the stone pagoda are the items both official sources name.

FAQ

Do I need to pay to enter Beomeosa?

No. Visit Busan lists admission as free. Parking is available but charged, and we could not confirm the fee.

How long should I allow for a visit?

We cannot say, because no official source we used gives a figure. The grounds are open from 08:00 to 17:00, so it is sensible to arrive well before closing.

Can I stay overnight at the temple?

Yes, through the templestay programme listed on the official Templestay site. Prices, dates and conditions on that page may change, so read the current booking page before you plan around a stay.

Are there rules about photography or clothing?

We found no official statement on either in the pages we read. The one etiquette rule we could confirm is to keep silent, so keep your voice low and ask at the temple if you are unsure.

What We Could Not Confirm

Current templestay availability, prices and conditions. The page we read may have changed, and we did not see a live booking calendar.
Photography rules, dress code and any restricted areas. We found no official statement in the pages we fetched.
How long a visit takes. No official source we used gives a figure, so we give none.
Bus 90 frequency and timetable, and the parking fee.
The National Treasure number for the main hall’s wooden Buddha statues. One source lists a number, but we saw no second official source, so we leave it out.

Before You Go

Check the day’s hours by phone if you are travelling a long way, arrive well before 17:00, wear shoes suited to stone steps, and keep your voice low inside the grounds.

Follow @rolo.koreaguide on Instagram for short visual guides to places like this.

Related guides

Sources

All checked 30 Sep 2026.

Korea Tourism Organization, TourAPI (English): Busan Beomeosa Temple (content ID 264227), also the English VisitKorea page vcontsId=111223. Photographs: KTO, KOGL Type 1, used unaltered.
Visit Busan, Beomeosa Temple page (visitbusan.net, uc_seq=402): history, treasures, hours, fee, transport, etiquette.
Beomeosa Temple official English site (beomeo.kr/eng/sub1.php): founding, One Pillar Gate, main hall, phone.
Templestay (Beomeosa relaxation programme, re-checked 1 Oct 2026): https://www.templestay.com/en/MI000000000000000019/reserve/view.do?templeId=Beomeosa&templeFlag=&templestaySeq=25291&bookmarkFlag= – prices, dates, weekday stays, rules. Note: eng.templestay.com returned HTTP 403 and was not read.