An urban temple in the middle of Sangmu: a main hall, courtyard, and a culture center with cafe and gallery, a rest for anyone regardless of faith.
“A temple inside the busy district is needed all the more.”
In the heart of Sangmu's busy district in Seo-gu, Mugaksa is an urban temple sitting among office towers. A longtime visitor says, “A temple inside the busy district is needed all the more.” A main hall, a small courtyard, and a culture center with a cafe and gallery mean anyone, of any faith, can sit a while. At lunch, nearby office workers rest on courtyard benches with coffee; in the evening, lotus lanterns glow softly. “You don't have to light incense — just sit quietly and go,” he says. Its charm is how the city noise stops dead at one wall.
Practical
Courtyard benches are calm at lunch; the culture center often has a show on.
Free. Services may be underway — keep quiet inside the main hall.
