Travel Phrases — Entry No. 1147
조계사
jogyesa · noun
조계사
jogyesa
[jo-GAE-suh]
nounbeginner
Meaning
The chief temple of the Jogyesa Order in South Korea, located in central Seoul near Anguk Station. It stands as Korea’s most significant Buddhist temple complex, serving as the spiritual headquarters for Korean Buddhism with centuries of historical importance.
K-Pop & K-Drama Context
Frequently featured in K-dramas like ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020) and ‘Tale of the Nine-Tailed’ where characters seek spiritual peace. K-pop idols including members of BTS and BLACKPINK have visited for meditation and cultural appreciation, often posting temple experiences on social media.
Example Sentences
조계사에서 명상을 했어요.
jogyesa-eseo myeongsang-eul haesseoyo.
I meditated at Jogyesa — implies seeking inner peace or spiritual reflection.
조계사는 서울의 중심에 있어요.
jogyesa-neun seoul-ui jungshim-e isseoyo.
Jogyesa is in the center of Seoul — used when giving location directions to tourists.
관광객들이 조계사를 많이 방문해요.
gwangwanggaek-deul-i jogyesa-reul mani bangmunhae.
Tourists visit Jogyesa a lot — describing popular temple attractions.
⚠️ Don’t use jogyesa when…
1) Pronounced with hard emphasis on ‘GAE’ — not ‘jo-GYE-sa’; locals will correct soft pronunciation. 2) It’s one specific temple in Seoul, not a general word for Korean temples — using it generically confuses native speakers who expect temple-specific names.
🎵 Heard In
- K-Drama: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) — character visits Jogyesa seeking peace after emotional trauma, temple scenes show traditional Korean Buddhist practices.
- K-Pop: BTS — ‘Spring Day’ (aesthetic of temples appears in mood boards); BLACKPINK members have documented temple visits in variety show episodes.
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.