Where It's Located
The Seoul Korea Temple is located at:
Sinchon-ro 7 GIL 21
Seodaemun-gu
Seoul, South Korea 03783
The temple sits on a hill in western Seoul, overlooking Ewha Womans University, Yonsei University, and Sogang University. To the north is the expressway leading toward Gimpo International Airport.
The temple property is only about one acre, making it a relatively compact temple site compared with many temples around the world.
Getting There
Seoul has an extensive public transportation network, and the temple is particularly convenient to reach by subway.
Interestingly, a major subway entrance was added only two blocks from the temple several years after its dedication, making transportation significantly easier and more affordable for temple patrons.
International travelers will most commonly arrive through Incheon International Airport and then travel into Seoul.
Gimpo International Airport is much closer to the temple and is located to the north of the property.
A Bit of History
The history of the Seoul Korea Temple begins well before the temple itself.
Kim Ho Jik, a prominent Korean government and educational figure, became the first native Korean to join the Church on July 29, 1951, while studying at Cornell University in New York.
His conversion became an important part of the early history of the Church in Korea.
A son and daughter were also among the first four Koreans baptized in their native country.
Korea Is Dedicated to the Gospel
On August 2, 1955, President Joseph Fielding Smith dedicated the land of Korea for the preaching of the restored gospel.
The dedication took place on a hill overlooking Seoul, which at the time was still heavily affected by the devastation of the Korean War.
Kim Ho Jik was among the small group present for the dedication.
This makes the temple's eventual location particularly meaningful: the temple was ultimately built in the same city whose future had been the subject of that early dedication.
Early Hopes for a Temple
Korean Latter-day Saints began expressing a desire for a temple as early as the 1960s.
One member, Park Jae Am, asked Elder Gordon B. Hinckley whether there would ever be a temple in Korea.
According to the temple's historical account, Elder Hinckley responded encouragingly that if the Saints remained close to the Lord and obedient to the Church, there would eventually be a temple in Korea.
That promise became reality less than two decades later.
The Temple Property
The property where the temple now stands was purchased in 1965, when President Spencer J. Palmer became mission president in Korea.
The property originally served other Church purposes before the temple was built.
In fact, the first Institute building outside North America was constructed on the site several years before the temple.
A mission office and meetinghouse were eventually demolished to make room for the temple.
Early Korean Temple Trips
Before there was a temple in Korea, members had to travel internationally to receive temple ordinances.
The first Korean temple group consisted of six couples who traveled to Hawaii on July 31, 1970.
Getting out of Korea was not always simple.
At the time, immigration policies created significant difficulties for Korean couples traveling together. The first temple trips therefore required considerable sacrifice and determination.
The eventual construction of a temple in Seoul dramatically changed that situation.
The Seoul Korea Temple Announcement
The Seoul Korea Temple was officially announced on April 1, 1981.
The announcement came after years of growth and sacrifice by Korean Latter-day Saints.
One factor contributing to the decision was the Korean Saints' strong cultural emphasis on honoring ancestors and preserving family records.
The temple history highlights one particularly remarkable example: a Korean member named Kim San possessed ancestral records dating back to A.D. 927.
That deep interest in genealogy fit particularly well with the Church's emphasis on family history and temple work.
Korean Members Sacrificed for the Temple
The original plans for the Seoul Korea Temple were relatively modest.
The building was initially planned to have only two endowment rooms and one sealing room.
However, the plans were expanded and redesigned three times.
One major reason was the tremendous financial sacrifice made by Korean members toward the temple.
Their willingness to give so much of their savings toward the project resulted in a larger and more substantial temple than originally envisioned.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on May 9, 1983, with Elder Marvin J. Ashton presiding.
Construction proceeded rapidly enough that the temple would be ready for its public open house just over two years later.
Public Open House
The Seoul Korea Temple held its public open house from November 26 through December 7, 1985.
More than 13,000 people toured the temple during the 11-day open house.
The open house allowed members of the Korean public to see the interior of the temple and learn about its religious purpose before the dedication.
Dedication
The temple was dedicated on December 14–15, 1985, by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
It became the 37th dedicated temple in operation.
An interesting detail surrounds the dedication.
President Ezra Taft Benson had become President of the Church only about a month earlier and was healthy enough to attend. However, he chose to follow the existing plans and have President Hinckley perform the dedication.
The First Temple in Mainland Asia
The Seoul Korea Temple has an especially important place in temple history.
It was:
- The first temple in mainland Asia
- The first temple in South Korea
- The 37th temple dedicated and operating at the time of its dedication
This made Seoul a major milestone in the global expansion of temple worship.
Architecture
The Seoul Korea Temple contains approximately 28,057 square feet of floor space.
The temple rises approximately 83 feet and is faced with granite.
Its most recognizable architectural feature is a collection of six detached spires, topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
The six-spire arrangement gives the temple a very different appearance from many other temples built during the same period.
Six Detached Spires
The detached spires are perhaps the defining visual feature of the Seoul Temple.
Rather than having one dominant central tower, the temple's six spires are distributed around the structure.
The design gives the building a somewhat more open and vertical appearance despite its relatively compact footprint.
The Angel Moroni statue rises above the temple as the central visual focus.
Temple Rooms
The Seoul Korea Temple contains:
- Four instruction rooms
- Three sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The temple's relatively small site makes the number of rooms particularly notable.
The Temple Grounds
Although the property is only about one acre, the temple grounds are carefully landscaped.
The grounds include peaceful gardens that are open for the public to admire.
This is especially significant given the temple's location in one of the world's most densely populated and heavily developed metropolitan areas.
The gardens provide a quiet contrast to the surrounding city.
A Temple Above Seoul
One of the most distinctive aspects of the temple is its elevated location.
The temple stands on a hill overlooking major universities, including:
- Ewha Womans University
- Yonsei University
- Sogang University
This gives the temple a prominent position within the surrounding neighborhood.
The setting also places the temple close to one of Seoul's major university districts.
A Temple in the Heart of Seoul
Unlike temples located on large suburban properties, the Seoul Korea Temple is deeply integrated into the urban environment.
The one-acre property is surrounded by the enormous Seoul metropolitan area.
Yet inside the temple grounds, visitors encounter gardens and a comparatively peaceful environment.
That contrast is one of the temple's most appealing characteristics.
Patron Housing
The temple complex includes patron housing.
This provides accommodations for traveling members who come to Seoul to participate in temple ordinances.
Given that members once had to travel internationally to Hawaii to attend the temple, having accommodation available directly at the temple complex represents a significant improvement in accessibility.
Arrival Center and Distribution Center
The temple property also includes an arrival center and a distribution center.
However, there is no visitors' center open to the public at the temple.
Visitors can still admire the exterior and surrounding gardens.
Exploring Seoul
A temple trip to Seoul provides an enormous number of opportunities to explore Korean history and culture.
Major attractions include:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Insadong
- Myeongdong
- N Seoul Tower
- Dongdaemun
- Namdaemun Market
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
- War Memorial of Korea
Seoul is also one of the world's best cities for food, shopping, public transportation, and modern architecture.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the most recognizable historic sites in Seoul.
The massive palace complex provides visitors with an opportunity to see traditional Korean architecture in the middle of the modern capital.
It makes an excellent companion to a visit to the Seoul Temple because both provide different perspectives on Korean history.
Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Village is known for its traditional Korean houses, or hanok.
The narrow streets and historic buildings offer a striking contrast to Seoul's skyscrapers.
Visitors should remember that Bukchon is still a residential neighborhood and should be respectful of residents.
Korean Food
No trip to Seoul would be complete without experiencing Korean food.
Popular options include:
- Korean barbecue
- Bibimbap
- Bulgogi
- Japchae
- Tteokbokki
- Korean fried chicken
- Kimchi jjigae
- Naengmyeon
Seoul's food scene ranges from street food to high-end restaurants.
Seoul's Public Transportation
One of the best features for temple travelers is Seoul's extensive public transportation network.
The subway system makes it possible to reach huge portions of the city quickly and inexpensively.
The temple's proximity to a major subway entrance makes it particularly convenient.
The temple history specifically notes that a subway entrance was added two blocks away several years after the temple's dedication, making travel to the temple faster and more economical.
Why the Seoul Temple Matters
The Seoul Korea Temple represents decades of sacrifice by Korean Latter-day Saints.
Members first began hoping for a temple in the 1960s.
They traveled to Hawaii under difficult circumstances.
They donated significant portions of their savings toward the construction project.
And when the temple was finally announced, they helped transform what was originally intended to be a relatively simple structure into a much larger temple.
The finished building became a physical symbol of the growth of the Church in Korea.
A Temple Built on Ancestor-Focused Culture
The temple's connection to Korean family history is particularly interesting.
Korean culture has traditionally placed enormous importance on honoring ancestors and maintaining family records.
That cultural emphasis complemented the Church's focus on genealogical research and temple ordinances for deceased ancestors.
The story of Kim San's records dating to A.D. 927 provides a remarkable illustration of the depth of Korean genealogical traditions.
From War-Torn Seoul to a Temple
Perhaps the most powerful historical contrast surrounding the temple is the transformation of Seoul itself.
When President Joseph Fielding Smith dedicated Korea for missionary work in 1955, the city was still recovering from the Korean War.
Thirty years later, the Seoul Korea Temple stood on a hill overlooking the rapidly developing capital.
The temple's history therefore parallels the extraordinary transformation of modern South Korea.
Visiting the Temple
The Seoul Korea Temple is an operating temple.
There is no public visitors' center, but the property has an arrival center, patron housing, and a distribution center.
The surrounding gardens are open for the public to admire.
Anyone planning to participate in temple ordinances should check the current official temple schedule before traveling, since operating hours and closures can change.
Final Thoughts
The Seoul Korea Temple is one of the most historically important temples in Asia.
Its story began with the earliest Korean converts, including Kim Ho Jik, who joined the Church in 1951. Korea was dedicated for missionary work in 1955, and Korean Saints began expressing hopes for a temple as early as the 1960s.
The temple was announced on April 1, 1981, groundbreaking took place on May 9, 1983, and more than 13,000 people toured the building during its 1985 open house.
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on December 14–15, 1985. It became the first temple in mainland Asia and the first temple in South Korea.
Today, the 28,057-square-foot granite temple remains one of Seoul's most distinctive Latter-day Saint landmarks. Its six detached spires, Angel Moroni statue, peaceful gardens, and elevated location give it a unique presence in the city.
For Latter-day Saint travelers from the United States, a trip to the Seoul Korea Temple offers a fascinating combination of temple history, Korean culture, incredible food, historic palaces, modern Seoul, and the story of a community whose sacrifices helped bring the first temple in mainland Asia to Korea.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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