All photos were taken on December 10, 2022.

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Maria Kim sayart2022@gmail.com 

Seokmodo Island, which could only be reached by boat from Ganghwa Island, was opened in 2017, and anyone can now visit it at any time.

Bomunsa Temple located in Seokmodo Island is an old temple located on Mt. Nakgasan, a 15-minute drive across the Seokmodaegyo Bridge.

This temple is famous as one of the three major Avalokitesvara temples in Korea, along with Boriam Temple in Geumsan, Namhae and Hongryeonam Temple in Naksansa Temple, Yangyang, Gangwon-do.  

In particular, this temple is located at the top of Nakgasan Mountain, allowing people to see the beautiful scenery of the West Sea at a glance.

Bomunsa Temple was built by Monk Hoejeong in the 4th year of Queen Seondeok of Silla (AD 635). It is said that in the 14th year since its founding, a fisherman with the surname Go brings up 22 statues of Buddha and Arhat from the nearby sea with a net and enshrined them in the grotto of this temple.

▲ Photo by Maria KimWhen people enter Bomunsa Temple, they can see several buildings painted with Dancheong. : Dancheong has real color and beautiful patterns.

This kind of temple scenery is harmonized with old trees that are over hundreds of years old, and it represents the image of a traditional Korean temple well.

▲ Photo by Maria Kim

The statues of 500 Arhats erected this temple are worth seeing. And Those who visit Bomunsa Temple want to see the “rock-carved stone Buddha (Maaeseogbul, 마애석불)” located at the highest point of the mountain.

People have to endure pain to reach the rock-carved stone Buddha. Climbing 420 steep stairs to the highest point without stopping for 20 minutes, finally They will find a rock-carved stone Buddha there.

▲ “rock-carved stone Buddha (Maaeseogbul, 마애석불)” located at the highest point of the mountain. Photo by Maria KimRock-carved stone Buddha is carved just below the eyebrow rock at the top of the mountain. This rock, literally resembles an eyebrow, and the protruding eyebrow rock protects the rock-carved stone Buddha from snow and rain.

Although it is difficult for many people, they come up here, light candles, and bow to the rock-carved stone Buddha several times in hopes that their wishes will come true.