65 Jogye Order Temples Nationwide Waive Admission Fees Starting from the 4th

Admission fees for cultural heritage sites at temples of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism nationwide will be waived starting from the 4th.

According to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, a business agreement outlining this content will be signed with the Cultural Heritage Administration on the morning of the 1st. This agreement was made in accordance with the revised Cultural Heritage Protection Act, which stipulates that when owners or managers of nationally designated cultural properties reduce or waive admission fees, the government will support the corresponding costs.

Bokyeongsa Temple, a Jogye Order temple located in Songra-myeon, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk, where the admission fee exemption will be implemented starting from the 4th of next month.

The admission fee waiver applies to 65 temples nationwide, with a government budget of 41.9 billion won allocated. However, temples holding city or provincial designated cultural properties are excluded from this support, so admission fees are expected to continue to be collected there.

The existing ‘admission ticket booths’ will be changed to ‘Buddhist Cultural Heritage Information Centers’ and will serve as guides to promote the enjoyment of Buddhist cultural heritage and ensure safe visits.

This is the first admission fee waiver in 53 years. Temple admission fees began in 1970 when they were integrated with national park entrance fees, but even after the national park entrance fees were abolished in January 2007, temples continued to charge separate cultural heritage admission fees, causing conflicts with hikers.