At the Southern Foot of Geumgangsan: How to Reach Geumgangsa Temple in Busan and the History of Chabatgol

A temple on the southern foothills of Geumjeongsan Mountain, founded by Master Wolmyeong in 1951

Geumgangsa Temple is located on the southern foothills of Geumjeongsan Mountain in Oncheon-dong, Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City. Informational materials explain that Master Wolmyeong founded Geumgangsa in 1951 and introduce it as a secluded practice site, neither fully urban nor fully rural, where many eminent monks have pursued spiritual practice in seclusion.

Later, the Great Dharma Master Ilbung Gyeongbo completed a retreat at Geumgangsa, and the temple was introduced as an original monastery for scriptural translation, propagation, disciple training, international Buddhist missionary work, Buddhist education, and the transmission of the Dharma. From 1964, Master Gaesan Hyeseong took over the temple and continued its revival projects, and it became known as a foundational center for international Buddhist missionary work.

Geumgangsa address and visiting hours from 10:00 to 17:00

Geumgangsa's address is 211 Ujangchun-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City (Oncheon-dong). According to the tourism information page, its operating hours are 10:00–17:00, and it is open year-round. The telephone number is 051-555-1383, and the official website is http://www.kumkangsa.or.kr/.

Admission is listed as free. However, the recommended viewing time, English information or audio guides, photography rules inside, the areas accessible to visitors, and restricted zones at Geumgangsa itself were not confirmed in the public information. It is therefore safest to begin by quietly exploring the outdoor areas in accordance with temple etiquette.

A 15-minute walk from Oncheonjang Station and 5 minutes from Geumgangwon Entrance

After getting off at Oncheonjang Station on the Busan Metro, it takes approximately 15 minutes to walk to Geumgang Park. By bus, the guide indicates about 5 minutes on foot after getting off at Geumgangwon Entrance stop and about 7 minutes after getting off at Oncheonjang Entrance stop.

Routes 77, 80, 110, 110-1, 121, 131, and 148-1, as well as the late-night route 1002, stop at Geumgangwon Entrance and the former Oncheon Market. Routes 51, 100, 100-1, 110-1, and 183, as well as express route 1008, stop at Oncheonjang. Village bus Dongnae 1-1 stops at the Dongnae Oncheon Fire Station, while Dongnae 7 stops at Geumgang Park Entrance.

Dongnae 1-1 is a medium-sized 25-seat bus with a 25-minute interval, while Dongnae 7 has a 15-minute interval. For first-time visitors, walking from the station or choosing the Geumgangwon Entrance stop first makes it easier to identify the stop name.

Landmarks for finding Geumgangsa inside Geumgang Park

Geumgangsa is one of the facilities included on the Geumgang Park guide map. Busan Infrastructure Corporation's guide explains that Geumgangsa is the building on the right when walking from the Folk Arts Museum. Geumgang Park is located around 155 Ujangchun-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City (Oncheon-dong), and covers 2,220,372㎡.

The entire Geumgang Park area was named Geumgangwon on November 10, 1940, and designated as a park on April 21, 1965. On June 26, 1972, it was designated as Protected Area No. 26, a cultural heritage monument of Busan Metropolitan City, and it has been open free of charge since July 1, 2004.

Inside the Iljumun Gate are old pine trees, and the area is described as being filled with the fragrance of pine groves. Geumgangsa is suitable for an itinerary combining a temple visit with the park's facilities rather than as a hiking destination, but public materials did not confirm the interior slopes, stairs, or surfaces, nor wheelchair and stroller accessibility.

Chabatgol culture and tea-making experiences at Geumgangsa

A Chabatgol tea culture has developed around Geumgangsa, and informational materials describe it as a temple culture where citizens can rest while drinking tea. Geumgangsa is also presented as a place offering tea-making experiences, but the experience schedule, participation fee, and reservation method were not confirmed in the public information.

Approximately 1,000 people attended the 15th Busan Chabatgol Culture Festival held at Geumgangsa in 2019. The event included a Zen calligraphy and painting exhibition by Master Hyeseong, a special exhibition of tea utensils by artist Cheon Hyang-sun, a ceremony transporting water from Godangbong Peak on Geumjeongsan Mountain, the Godang Seonrang tea ceremony, and the Baekhwa Manbal Offering Tea Ceremony.

Therefore, visitors interested in tea culture should focus on the connection between Geumgangsa and Chabatgol culture rather than expect a permanent exhibition hall. For information about whether experiences are currently offered, calling 051-555-1383 is the most practical approach.

How time and cost change when you also take the cable car

Geumgang Park has a cable car that opened in September 1966. It is 1,260 m long, runs round-trip to the Geumjeongsan Mountain ridge at an elevation of 540 m, and takes 6 minutes one way. The operating inquiry telephone number is 051-552-1761.

From March through October, it operates from 09:30–17:30 on weekdays and 09:30–18:00 on weekends. In November, hours are 10:00–17:30 on weekdays and 09:30–17:30 on weekends. From December through February, hours are 10:00–17:00 on weekdays and 09:30–17:30 on weekends.

Adult and youth fares are KRW 11,000 round trip and KRW 7,000 one way. Children aged 4 and over through elementary school pay KRW 8,000 round trip and KRW 5,000 one way. Senior citizens and visitors with disabilities in grades 1–3 pay KRW 9,000 round trip and KRW 6,000 one way. The cable car is regularly closed every Monday. If Monday is a public holiday or substitute holiday, the following day is the holiday, and operating hours may change depending on weather conditions.

Information to consider when driving and details to leave open until arrival

Geumgang Park has a parking lot, located beside the amusement area before reaching the Museum of Natural History. Since parking availability and fees at Geumgangsa itself were not confirmed in public materials, it is clearer to plan around the Geumgang Park parking lot rather than attempting to drive directly to the temple address.

Admission to Geumgangsa is free, and Geumgang Park has also been open free of charge since July 1, 2004, but the cable car requires a separate fee. The permitted scope of photography inside Geumgangsa, whether payment is cash-only, queue conditions and busy periods, and viewing restrictions due to season or weather were not confirmed.

Visitors should plan around the stated hours of 10:00–17:00 and the year-round opening information. When entering a worship hall, they should behave quietly so as not to disturb services or spiritual practice. The official website is http://www.kumkangsa.or.kr/, and the inquiry telephone number is 051-555-1383.

Itineraries that suit—or do not suit—a visit to Geumgangsa

Geumgangsa suits travelers who want to experience the atmosphere of a temple on the southern foothills of Geumjeongsan Mountain, the forest of Geumgang Park, and Chabatgol culture in one visit. Geumgang Park is a 15-minute walk from Oncheonjang Station, and the landmark of the building to the right of the Folk Arts Museum makes the temple easier to locate inside the park.

Conversely, information is insufficient for travelers who need to confirm in advance which temple areas are open, photography rules, English information, and wheelchair or stroller accessibility. Since no separate recommended viewing time was provided for Geumgangsa itself, visitors using the cable car should also consider its seasonal operating hours and Monday closure.

The address is 211 Ujangchun-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan Metropolitan City (Oncheon-dong). It is easy to separate costs and transportation by centering the itinerary on the free temple visit and adding the adult or youth cable car, which costs KRW 11,000 round trip, only if needed.