"Even Monks Take Nice Shots?"... Famous Temple Builds Screen Golf Course with Tax Money

Received Ministry of Culture Budget for Templestay Installation
Rapid Demolition Begins as Investigation Starts

A famous temple that built a templestay space with government funds has sparked controversy after it was revealed that a screen golf course was installed there.

On the 15th, JTBC reported that Yonghwasa Temple in Cheongju, Chungbuk, which has a 120-year history, installed a screen golf course in its basement using government funds, causing controversy. This temple built a templestay training center three years ago with a budget from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which also distributes 25 billion won in support funds to 150 temples nationwide, including Yonghwasa, and holds the authority to oversee templestay operations.

On the 15th, JTBC reported that Yonghwasa Temple, located in Cheongju, Chungbuk, with a history of 120 years, is causing controversy for installing an underground screen golf course using government funds.
[Photo by JTBC News]

A monk in charge of managing the templestay said, "In the evening, the participants have nothing to do. We also need a Plan B for the participants," explaining that the screen golf course was a space for the participants. However, those who actually used the screen golf course were the monks, and templestay participants witnessed this. Regarding this, the monk in charge excused, "Last year or the year before, we were really into golf and thought we should try it properly, so we practiced a bit, and sometimes the prayer monks would go down after dinner in the evening just to kill time."

As controversy over the screen golf course spread, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered its removal about a month ago, stating that it did not align with the purpose of the templestay. However, Yonghwasa delayed the removal and only began dismantling it hurriedly once the investigation started. A templestay participant who witnessed the dismantling explained, "The monk said, 'It seems they will come to investigate tomorrow because we are using a facility that does not fit the purpose,' and the dismantling continued past 8 p.m." The Ministry plans to check whether similar cases exist at other temples.