The templestay at Woljeongsa Temple deep in Mt. Odaesan is particularly special thanks to the fir tree trail and Seonjaegil Trail nearby. In pre-modern times, fir trees were planted around temples for their fire-preventing properties and tendency to grow straight upright. One thousand years ago, nine fir trees were planted at the main gate and multiplied to become the 1,700-tree forest seen today. In 2011, the forest won first prize at the National Beautiful Forest Competition of Korea. Before arriving at the temple, it is nice to take a walk with the forest guide on Saturdays. A stroll after sunset is both serene and peaceful. Seonjaegil is a 9km-long forest trail that connects Woljeongsa Temple and Sangwonsa Temple. Monks and their followers used to tread this path, and it is the perfect course to listen to the sounds of nature and meditate on valley rocks. For those who cannot participate in a whole temple stay, consider the temple life program, which allows visitors to choose two programs such as making Buddhist prayer beads, sampling Buddhist snacks with monks, meditating, meditating on a forest walk, making lotus lanterns, and taking a tour of the Buddhist museum. Interpretation in English, Chinese, and Japanese is available.

* This column was last updated in November 2022, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.