Bongeunsa Temple, Seoul
This stunning example of monastic beauty is more striking due to the juxtaposition of a 91-foot-tall stone Buddha statue gazing over the sleek skyscrapers in the trendy Gangnam district below.
Jogyesa Temple, Seoul
The colorful temple standing now is a 20th-century replica of the original 14th-century building destroyed by fire centuries ago. It is an excellent example of the vibrant dancheong painting style found in Korean temple architecture.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan
Walk across the gently arched stone footbridge to reach the temple's unusual collection of sculptures, including the Seawater Great Goddess Buddha and a pagoda featuring four carved lions overlooking the sea.
Donghwasa Temple, Daegu
Tucked amidst the foliage along a slope of Palgongsan Mountain, this temple's name means “Even in winter, the Empress tree blooms.”
Baegyangsa, Bukha-myeon
Baegyangsa is a seventh-century gem that's as Instagrammable as they come, with the gently sloping roof of the main temple building backed by the towering granite peaks found in Naejangsan National Park.
Tapsa Temple, Jinan
The temple's origins are unclear, but it's known for a mysterious collection of 80 stone pagodas built by a retired scholar who came to the area to pray for the souls of humankind in the 19th century.