Bongeunsa’s Saengjeon Yesujae concludes 49 days of prayer
Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul’s Gangnam district will open to the public the closing rites of its 49-day Saengjeon Yesujae observance on October 18–19. Saengjeon Yesujae is a Buddhist ritual in which the living pray for rebirth in the Pure Land after death. Viewing is free.
What the ritual is
Saengjeon means “during one’s lifetime.” The Korea Heritage Agency describes Saengjeon Yesujae as a Buddhist ritual in which living people pray for rebirth in the Pure Land after death.
This year’s public program is the hoeyang, the conclusion of a 49-day period of prayer. The two days open to the public are the final part of that observance.
Order of the two days
The first day includes the opening Sinjung Jakbeop rites, the procession of a large hanging Buddhist painting and a ritual tablet, preparation of the ritual space, a Buddhist ceremony and a joint recitation of the Diamond Sutra.
The second day moves through rites at the middle, lower and spirit altars and ends with the closing send-off. The two days follow different sequences rather than repeating one program. The photograph is an archival image from a past ceremony supplied by the Korea Heritage Agency, not from this year’s event.
Visitor information
The public ceremony runs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on October 18 and 19, 2026, on the temple grounds. The official listing says on-site viewing is free. The address is 531 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul; inquiries: 02-3218-4975.
The listing covers viewing only; it does not include participation in the rites, seating or foreign-language interpretation. Visitors should keep clear of the ceremony and worshippers.
LOCATION
Source Korea Heritage Agency · October 1 official release and photograph appendix Checked 2026.10.15 16:21
Sources & context
2026-10-15T08:05:20.458Z
Korea Heritage Agency · October 1 official release and photograph appendix ↗Korea Heritage Agency · official Bongeunsa ceremony information ↗National Intangible Heritage Center · Bongeunsa ceremony schedule ↗Korea Heritage Agency · October 7 public-event schedule ↗Korea Heritage Agency · copyright policy ↗Archival photograph of Bongeunsa Saengjeon Yesujae, not the October 2026 event. Korea Heritage Agency, October 1, 2026 release (Kim Yu-jeong), KOGL Type 1. Proportionally downscaled from the original.