Today, we visited a very special place: Biro-am, a small temple tucked into the hills above the well-known Tongdosa temple complex. While most visitors stop at Tongdosa — and rightly so, it’s one of Korea’s most iconic Buddhist sites — just a few kilometers further up a winding mountain road lies something different. Biro-am Tongdosa, quiet, surrounded by forest, Biro-am feels like stepping into another world.
We came here with our Korean family, who are Buddhist, to attend the Baekjung ceremony — an annual Buddhist ritual that honors the spirits of deceased loved ones. The monk led the ceremony with chants, offerings of fruit, rice and incense, and silent prayers.
“살펴서… 조상님들께 공양 올립니다.”
– “We prepare this offering with care, and dedicate it to our ancestors.”
And then? Everyone gathers to eat. Bowls of bibimbap, warm seaweed soup, and beautifully arranged fruit — much of it offered during the ceremony. Everything is shared freely. No one pays. Well… technically there were offerings. 😉
It was a unique experience — serene, generous, and deeply human. And this is exactly the kind of place we love to share during our private tours. Not just the famous sites like Tongdosa, but also the quiet gems hidden just a few bends up the mountain.
Would you like to discover this side of Korea too? Join us for a day, and we’ll take you there. 🌿