Yakcheonsa Temple

Jeju Island, South Korea

---

Yakcheonsa Temple on Jeju Island, South Korea, is a grand modern Buddhist complex built in the style of early Joseon Dynasty architecture, constructed from 1982 to 1996 on the site of an earlier small hermitage called Yaksuam, named for a legendary mineral spring believed to have healing powers discovered by a monk in the 1960s.

Rising 30 meters high with a massive Daejeokgwangjeon main hall spanning over 3,000 square meters—claimed as East Asia's largest—it houses South Korea's tallest wooden Vairocana Buddha statue at 5 meters on a 4-meter pedestal, flanked by smaller Buddhas, 80,000 gilt-bronze miniatures, intricate carvings, and vibrant murals across three stories plus a basement. 

Overlooking the southern sea amid palm groves and tangerine orchards, the expansive grounds feature an 18-ton bronze bell, Dharma drum, heart-shaped ponds with fountains, Dolhareubang statues, and additional halls like the Cave Dharma Hall, drawing visitors for its serene beauty and spiritual allure.