Usually we have to hike up a mountain if we want to have a look around a temple in Korea. But not in the case of Silleuksa temple in Yeoju – this is the only temple in Korea that is by the riverside. Yeoju is about an hour away from Seoul by bus and there are other places of historical interest that can be seen in a day trip including the tomb of King Sejong the Great and the birthplace of Empress Myeongseong.
It’s thought that Silleuksa was built by Monk Wonhyo (around A.D. 580) during the reign of King Jinpyeong in the Silla Period – anyway, it’s very old. Silleuksa was made a prayer sanctuary to the royal mausoleum of King Sejong the Great. It cost us 2,200 won each to get in (a lot more expensive than the entrance fee to King Sejong’s tomb) and a group of adjummas arrived at the same time as us and were also muttering over the pricey entrance fee..
