Sejong Traditional Culture Experience Center on the Slopes of Jeonwolsan Mountain

Controversy and Litigation Before Its Construction at the Foot of Jeonwolsan Mountain

Sejong Traditional Culture Experience Center is located in Sejong-dong, S-1 Living Area, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, below the foothills of Jeonwolsan Mountain. The view of the center below the foothills of Jeonwolsan Mountain in Sejong-dong (S-1 Living Area) shows the character of the site. The facility originally planned for this location was to have a different name. It was initially planned as the “Buddhist Culture Experience Center,” but the project went through a difficult process after objections were raised by Christian groups.

The main controversy concerned how the site was acquired. The Jogye Order had purchased the planned construction site more than a decade earlier, and suspicions arose that special treatment had been given to the Buddhist community when the Korea Land and Housing Corporation later purchased the site again and paid compensation to build the center. Litigation also took place amid claims that the National Agency for Administrative City Construction and Sejong City, along with other central and local government bodies, had provided a particular religion with preferential treatment in site acquisition and budgetary support. Considering the connection between traditional Korean culture and Buddhism, the courts ruled in favor of Sejong City in both the first and second trials. As of August 2022, the plaintiff’s appeal to the Supreme Court was still awaiting a final decision.

Opened on August 9, 2022, Alongside Neighboring Gwangjesa Temple

This experience center near Jeonwolsan Mountain in Sejong City held its opening ceremony on August 9, 2022, and began full-scale operations. As of November 22 of that year, three months after opening, public interest remained strong, with more than 5,000 visitors having come to the center. Donghwan, the director at the time, explained the background behind choosing the location at Jeonwolsan Mountain, saying, “If we were to identify the greatest reason the Traditional Culture Experience Center came to be located on Jeonwolsan Mountain, it might be because we heard the voices of Sejong City, where cultural infrastructure is lacking.”

Gwangjesa Temple, located alongside the center, was founded in 2022 through the sustained efforts of Jogye Order executive heads Jaseung, Seoljeong, and Wonhaeng, among others, and was designated a directly managed temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in March 2023. Visitors to the center can also take part in a temple stay, which allows them to stay at the temple surrounded by the natural environment of Jeonwolsan Mountain and experience the daily life of Buddhist practitioners. The area is adjacent to the planned site of the National Assembly Sejong Branch and has a good outlook, with the National Sejong Arboretum directly across from it.

From the Basement to the Third Floor — Information Hall, Reading Room, and Food Offering Experience Room

From the time it opened, the center adopted the slogan “A space where tradition and modernity breathe together.” The building consists of one basement level and three above-ground floors. The Traditional Culture Information Hall on the first floor displays traditional handicrafts, while children can read books in the children’s reading room.

The second floor has a separate experience area. In the Food Offering Experience Room, cooking programs focus on natural foods and medicinal cuisine, using wholesome ingredients. Participants learn healthy eating habits by preparing food themselves with minimally processed ingredients. In one year, the center invited Sunjae, a master of temple cuisine, to give a special lecture on making kimchi with seasonal summer ingredients.

Contact information is also provided through several channels. The official website’s main page has separate menus for viewing the facilities on each floor in the order 3F, 2F, 1F, and B1. The center’s email address is [email protected], and the customer service telephone number is 044-850-3100.

09:00–17:00, Closed on Mondays — Hours and Fees

The official website’s visitor information states that the operating hours are 09:00–17:00 and that Mondays are closed. At the bottom of the page, a common notice states that lunch break is from 11:30–12:30 and that when Monday is a public holiday, the center closes on Tuesday instead. The address is 94 Morongji-ro (Sejong-dong), Sejong Special Self-Governing City, and the main telephone number is 044-850-3100.

Admission fees vary by program. The center offers some paid programs as well as free ones. Visits to exhibitions themselves are often free, as was the case with a dance exhibition held in the information hall in 2023, while cooking and tea ceremony experiences requiring material costs appear to carry separate fees. To be safe, confirm the exact fee for each program by calling 044-850-3100 before making a reservation.

From Temple Cuisine to Vipassana — Exploring the Experience Programs

As of November 22, 2022, the program lineup announced by the management was as follows: therapy meditation humanities lectures using traditional Buddhist music and dance, art-psychology healing, tea ceremony experiences, traditional temple cooking experiences held on Saturdays, Vipassana insight meditation, traditional lantern making, folk painting and Buddhist painting, formal bowl meals, and ongoing experience programs using music and samulnori percussion. Note that temple cooking and Vipassana meditation are held only on Saturdays.

Seasonal events are also held in addition to the regular programs. During the 2023 Sejong Festival, the representative of Jitda Kitchen Cooking Studio served as an instructor for a royal cuisine experience. Participants made and sampled janggimchi and yullan, and took part in a quiz session about diabetes and health, including the diabetes suffered by King Sejong the Great. On the first floor, visitors could also make Hangul grip holders using traditional mother-of-pearl techniques and take part in traditional games. In another year, a performance titled “Hwata from the Moon” was held in the center’s information hall from October 18 to 28, 2023, from 10:00 to 18:00, with free tickets. Since these special events are held temporarily during festivals and holiday periods rather than on a regular schedule, it is advisable to check the notices before visiting.

Directly Across from the National Sejong Arboretum, and as Far as Im Nansu’s Ginkgo Tree

In an interview shortly after opening, the center director stated the goal of linking the Presidential Archives and the National Sejong Arboretum so that students visiting Sejong could experience traditional culture without having to travel to other areas. In reality, the area around the center is adjacent to the planned National Assembly Sejong Branch site, and the National Sejong Arboretum is directly across from it.

There are also places within walking distance. Im Nansu’s ginkgo tree below Jeonwolsan Mountain is worth seeing. To reach it, pass the parking lot near the entrance road to Gwangjesa Temple and follow the road alongside a small stream.

94 Morongji-ro: How to Get There

Sejong City has adjusted public transportation services to better serve this area. The Sejong City Transportation Division changed local bus route 221 to pass through the National Sejong Arboretum and stated that it would continue analyzing demand and expand public transportation if necessary. Since the center is directly across from the arboretum, this route may be useful to consider, but it is safest to separately confirm the exact stop name and walking distance to the center before visiting.

If traveling by car, parking spaces are available near the entrance road to Gwangjesa Temple. However, the exact number of spaces and whether separate fees apply have not been officially confirmed, so it is best to inquire at 044-850-3100 before visiting.

Who Will Enjoy This Place—and Who May Not

Reviews from visits in August 2024 frequently mention the first-floor space. After touring the center, visitors can relax in the cozy café on the first floor. Reviews say that drinks are prepared on a self-service basis, guests may pay whatever amount they wish, and the front terrace is a pleasant place to read or chat. This flexible payment system and leisurely terrace are particularly suited to travelers looking for a quiet break. Communication through social media is also active: the official Instagram account (@jt_chehum) had 464 followers and 518 posts, and the center maintains a separate account dedicated to temple cuisine (@jtchehum_templefood).

However, the center is located alongside Gwangjesa Temple, a directly managed temple of the Jogye Order, and its main programs have a strong Buddhist cultural character, including formal bowl meals and Vipassana meditation. Travelers who prefer to avoid a distinct religious focus should check the nature of the programs in advance. Since paid and free programs are mixed, failing to confirm the fee structure before booking may cause confusion on site. In addition, the operating hours are short, from 09:00 to 17:00, and the center is closed on Mondays, so it should be left out of the itinerary if planning a day trip around Sejong on a Monday.