Dongguksa | Attraction Guide | K-Travel Mate

Dongguksa (東國寺) was founded in 1909 by the Japanese monk Seoneungbulgwan, and operated by Japanese monks during the 36 years of the Japanese colonial period. It bears the painful history of returning to Korea on August 15, 1945. It has existed through the Korean Empire and the Japanese colonial era to the present. It is the only remaining Japanese-style temple in Korea, characterized by the Daeungjeon and monks' quarters connected by an indoor corridor. Unlike Korean temples with ornate dancheong, Dongguksa features undecorated eaves and many windows on the Daeungjeon exterior, showing typical Japanese temple traits. A branch temple of Seonunsa in Gochang in the Jogye Order's 24th district, Dongguksa's Daeungjeon was designated a National Registered Cultural Heritage site in July 2003. Its original name was Geumgang Seonsa, founded in 1909 by the Japanese monk Naejeonbulgwan, establishing a proselytizing site in Gunsan for the Jodong sect. Japanese Buddhism entered Korea in 1877 following the opening of Busan, initially by the Jodojin sect Daegok faction establishing sites from 1904, followed by the Ilyeon sect. The Japanese government's intent was to assimilate Korea, not just propagate Buddhism. The Japanese Government-General issued the Temple Ordinance on June 3, 1911, promoting Japanese Buddhism throughout Korea by building branch temples and missions. Before Geumgang Seonsa's founding, Gunsan had Bonwonsa, Gunsansa, and Anguksa temples. Naejeonbulgwan, 77 years old in 1909, opened the proselytizing site in a house in Iljotong, Gunsan, then moved it in July 1913 to the current location and constructed today's Dongguksa.