South Korea’s most beautiful temple keeps a surprising secret

March 19, 2026

By Lilit Marcus

Haedong Yonggungsa

The temple has become the number-one attraction that international tourists want to see when they come to the city, according to local travel companies. The contrast of the tall white Buddhist statues against the dramatic rock formations and the crashing crest of waves is striking, and that’s not a coincidence: Its location was chosen according to the principles of pungsu jiri, which is similar to feng shui — the spot between the mountains and the sea was considered lucky.

It’s instantly recognizable among the social media-savvy set, who have made Haedong Yonggungsa a visual as synonymous with Busan as the Harbour Bridge in Sydney or the Statue of Liberty in New York — something they can identify even if they’ve never set foot there.

Stone sculptures represent the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac

“The majority of our customers want the daylight during the Yonggungsa Temple for the pictures,” says Jung “JJ” Jiho, a founder of the Korean tour company Lecirt.

Jung says he and his staff are always available to help set up and take photos for their clients, and some even suggest the best angles or places to stand.

Being on hand to help take the perfect Instagram snapshot is a standard part of the job of tour guides these days. But it also hints at how tourism to South Korea has changed in the last decade, as the country rides the “Korean Wave” of popularity brought on by the global success of K-Pop, K-Dramas, and Korean skincare and beauty products.