Gangjin Nammireuksa Temple, Selected as 'Tourist Destination of the Year' Shining on Instagram 2021

Published 10 Jan.2022 10:23(KST)

Azalea Road at Nam Mireuksa Temple, Gangjin-gun ? Asia Economy

[Gangjin＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-su] Nam Mireuksa Temple in Gundong-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do, was selected as the Tourist Destination of the Year that Shined on Instagram in 2021 on the 7th.

According to the county on the 10th, in the 2021 Trend Report "Summary of This Year's Travel Destinations That Shined on Instagram" announced by the Korea Tourism Organization, Gangjin Nam Mireuksa ranked 3rd among travel destinations with the most "likes."

Nam Mireuksa, the headquarters of the World Buddhism Mireuk Great Sect, is a temple located on Hwabangsan Mountain, Pungdong-gil, Gundong-myeon, Gangjin-gun, and houses the largest Amitabha Buddha statue in East Asia.

Founded by Monk Beophung in 1980, the temple has been restored and maintained for over 40 years, with ten million azalea bushes in various colors such as red and pink beautifully cultivated inside and outside the temple. Every spring when the azaleas are in full bloom, many domestic and international Buddhists as well as tourists visit to take photos and leave commemorative pictures.

Along the path from the Iljumun Gate to the temple grounds, 500 Arhat statues are arranged. In addition, the beautiful Buddhist structures such as the Daeungjeon Hall, Sawangjeon Hall, 33 Gwaneumjeon Halls, Manbuljeon Hall, Cheonbuljeon Hall, and the octagonal 13-story stone pagoda harmonize well with the scenery of Pungdong Village.

Monk Beophung said, "Before the outbreak of COVID-19, about 80 tour buses visited on weekdays and up to 200 on weekends. I hope the COVID-19 situation will be resolved soon so that we can share the beauty of the azaleas in full bloom with tourists in spring."

Kim Young-bin, Director of Tourism, said, "We thank Monk Beophung and the related personnel who developed Nam Mireuksa into a tourist attraction. Despite the difficult tourism conditions due to COVID-19, we will thoroughly manage the quarantine system and expand stay-type tourism infrastructure to steadfastly pursue the grand journey to complete the nation's best stay-type tourism city."