Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
해동용궁사
Arrive early for a quieter visit, expect stairs, and leave room for worshippers rather than treating every terrace as a photo set.
Language
Place information
- Korean name
- 해동용궁사
- Address
- 86 Yonggung-gil, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan
- Opening hours
- 04:30–19:20 (last entry 18:50)
- Time needed
- 1 hour
Filmed here
My NameK-drama
KTO records why it was chosen rather than which scene: it was picked, the page says, for the Buddhist message that 'revenge goes round and round.'
Korea Tourism Organization — 'My Name' filming location tour ·
What to see
The twelve zodiac guardians
The first thing on the path in. The twelve guard the twelve directions against what should not enter, and visitors work along the row looking for the animal of their own birth year.
The 108 steps
Past the gate the path runs down through pines. The temple over the sea does not appear until the steps end.
Yongmun Bridge
The bridge onto the temple ground, where people throw coins and make a wish — the temple is held to grant one of them, if it is asked for hard enough.
The Great Sea-Water Avalokiteshvara
Up the stairs beside the main hall, and the widest sea view on the grounds — the water opens out below the statue's feet.
The coastal path
A path along the rocks and the incoming waves; it forms part of the first stage of the Haeparang Trail.
Sunrise Rock
The point on the coastal path where the horizon is given to you whole.
First view: sunrise
The temple's own first view: dawn coming up off the horizon and the red sun with it.
Second view: the autumn moon
Coming down the hundred and eight steps on a night with a full moon.
Third view: mist at morning
The temple in morning fog — which, the temple writes, is why the hill behind it is called Bongnae, where the immortals play.
Fourth view: the evening bell
The bell heard across the water at sundown.
Fifth view: the open sea
Waves off the open sea breaking into spray against Noeul Rock.
Sixth view: the sea from Sirangdae
Standing on Sirangdae with nothing in front of you but water.
Seventh view: the cherry blossom
In spring the approach to the temple is under cherry blossom.
Eighth view: the night of the Buddha's birthday
On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the festival lanterns seen from Yaksajeon.
The twelve zodiac guardians selected
Nearby
Frequently asked questions
What makes this temple different?
It is built onto coastal rock above the sea. Korean Buddhist temples are almost always sited inland in mountain valleys, so the seaside setting is the exception rather than the norm.
How long does a visit take?
About an hour. It is a compact site — down through the rock gate, along the coastal terraces, and back up.
Is it accessible?
Not fully. The approach involves stairs and uneven outdoor rock, which is unavoidable on a cliffside site.
Can I combine it with Gwangalli in the evening?
Not really. The temple closes at 19:20, around when Gwangalli starts being worth the trip. Treat the temple as a morning and the bay as a night.
How do I get back?
Check in advance. It sits on the Gijang coast away from the subway network, and late service is not frequent.
Stories about this place
- My Name Filming Locations in Busan: Yeongdo and Haedong Yonggungsa
The four My Name locations the Korea Tourism Organization names, set out by scene, by what is there now, and by where they sit. Three are within 4 km of each other on Yeongdo; Haedong Yonggungsa is 20 km away and needs its own trip.
- Eight Places to Visit in Busan: What Each One Is and When to Go
A practical guide to eight Busan sights — Haedong Yonggungsa, Gamcheon Culture Village, the Songdo cable car, Taejongdae, BUSAN X the SKY, Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market, Haeundae and Gwangalli. What each one is, which part of the day it suits, how they group by area, and a one-day plan.
