Gangwon Tourism Organization's Temple Gourmet Event Sells Out Instantly as Over 10,000 Apply
by Lee jonggu
Published 11 Mar.2026 22:42(KST)
The “Chef’s Table: Pizza” Sunjae Effect
A Historic First for Local Governments
A 370-to-1 Competition for “Special Gourmet Experience at Temples”
The Gangwon Tourism Organization (CEO Choi Sunghyun, hereafter referred to as the Organization) announced on March 11 that all seats for the "Special Gourmet Experience at Gangwon Temples" event, scheduled to be held at Woljeongsa Temple in Pyeongchang on April 11, were sold out immediately after registration opened on March 9. A total of 11,101 applicants accessed the Naver Smart Store at once, resulting in an extraordinary competition rate of 370 to 1, which proved the explosive popularity of Gangwon temple tourism for the first time among local governments.
'Special Gourmet Experience at Gangwon Mountain Temples' Event Poster. Provided by Gangwon Tourism Organization
원본보기 아이콘This event is headlined by a temple cuisine demonstration by Venerable Sunjae, who gained attention as a temple food master and as one of the final seven contestants on Netflix's "Chef's Table: Pizza" Season 2. The program is designed to awaken all five senses through high-quality experiences, including a singing bowl meditation and tea conversation led by a Woljeongsa monk, as well as a walk through the fir tree forest path.
To maintain the serene and calm environment of the temple and ensure participants can fully immerse themselves in the experience, the number of attendees was strictly limited to an elite group of 30, thereby raising the quality of the event’s operation.
In particular, a portion of the participation fee will be refunded in the form of Pyeongchang Love Gift Certificates, so that tourist spending directly supports the local commercial district, thereby putting into practice the Organization’s philosophy that “tourism is the driving force of the local economy.”
Choi Sunghyun, CEO of the Gangwon Tourism Organization, stated, “This event, prepared in celebration of the ‘2025-2026 Visit Gangwon Years,’ is a meaningful occasion that allows guests to experience the essence of temple food made with Gangwon local agricultural specialties, while also contributing to the regional economy through the local gift certificate refund. Although we received overwhelming support, we sincerely thank and ask for the understanding of over 10,000 applicants who could not participate due to the limited number of spots available.”
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