Gilsangsa by day: a wooded temple walk, then a hanok teahouse

The temple grounds

Gilsangsa is a Jogye Order Buddhist temple. Roofs, stone walls and trees frame each other differently as the path turns, and the textures of wood and stone in the shade reward a slow look.

The editors suggest a daylight visit with 45–60 minutes for the grounds, plus extra time for tea or food.

From Daewongak to temple

The temple stands on the former site of a restaurant called Daewongak. Land and buildings donated by Kim Yeong-han became a temple, which opened as Gilsangsa in 1997. Its purpose changed within the surviving buildings and landscape, and it remains an active place of Buddhist practice and worship.

Suyeonsanbang

Suyeonsanbang, at 8 Seongbuk-ro 26-gil, is novelist Yi Tae-jun’s former home, now run as a traditional teahouse serving Korean teas such as omija. Same-day opening can be checked on 02-764-1736.

Bakery and art space

Napoleon Bakery, at 7 Seongbuk-ro near Hansung University Station, opened in 1968 and has a bakery downstairs and a cafe upstairs. The Seoul Tourism Organization lists daily hours of 09:00–20:30, with a Chuseok closure.

Seongbuk Art Space, at 23 Seongbuk-ro, opens Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00, closes Mondays and charges no admission. Current exhibitions are posted in the venue’s notices.

Getting there

Gilsangsa is at 68 Seonjam-ro 5-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Official tourism directions describe taking the Seongbuk 02 village bus from exit 6 of Hansung University Station on Line 4 to the Gilsangsa stop, avoiding the uphill walk.

Napoleon Bakery is 40 m from exit 5 of the same station, and Seongbuk Art Space a five-minute walk from exit 5.

Hours and etiquette

The Korea Tourism Organization lists Gilsangsa’s hours as 09:00–18:00, year-round. Enquiries: 02-3672-5945. All times are KST.

Indoor spaces and practice programs have their own conditions, separate from a general visit to the grounds. Visitors should ask before taking close photographs of worship or meditation spaces. Foreign-language programs, booking with overseas phone numbers and foreign-card acceptance at nearby shops are unverified.