Travel Phrases — Entry No. 1151
봉은사
bongeunsa · noun
봉은사
bongeunsa
[bong-EUN-suh]
nounbeginner
Meaning
A major Buddhist temple located in Gangnam, Seoul, founded in 794 during the Unified Silla period. Bongeunsa is known for its stunning 33-meter-tall stone pagoda and serves as a major tourist destination blending ancient temple traditions with modern Seoul.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Appeared in ‘My Love from the Star’ (2013) where the protagonist visits for meditative scenes. Stray Kids members have discussed visiting temples in Gangnam, and the temple has become popular among international K-pop fans doing Seoul pilgrimage tours.
Example Sentences
봉은사의 탑은 정말 아름다워요.
bongeunsa-ui tap-eun jeongmal areumdawoyo.
Bongeunsa’s pagoda is really beautiful — expressing admiration for the temple’s architecture.
강남에 있는 봉은사를 방문했어요.
gangnam-e issneun bongeunsa-reul bangmunhaesseoyo.
I visited Bongeunsa, which is in Gangnam — locating the temple for directions or itinerary planning.
봉은사는 많은 K-팬들이 찾아와요.
bongeunsa-neun manheun K-paen-deul-i chajawa.
Many K-fans come to Bongeunsa — describing its popularity among international tourists.
⚠️ Don’t use bongeunsa when…
1) Don’t pronounce the final ‘a’ — it’s softly connected, not a separate syllable; ‘bong-EUN-suh’ not ‘bong-EUN-sah’. 2) It’s in Gangnam (modern Seoul), not Jongno-gu like Jogyesa — confusing the locations will earn a correction from locals or misguide tourists.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: My Love from the Star (2013) — spiritual meditation scenes; featured as tranquil escape from modern Seoul chaos in the romantic storyline.
- K-Pop: Stray Kids — members have participated in temple visits during Korean cultural education content; temples feature in meditation-themed K-pop music videos.
ℹ️ Editorial Note: The cultural context and example usage are for educational reference only. Artist names, song titles, and drama references are used descriptively to illustrate vocabulary in context. This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy. For official information, please refer to the respective artists’ or studios’ official channels.