Seoul, Jan 18 (NationPress) In 2025, approximately 350,000 individuals in South Korea participated in “temple stays,” an overnight cultural initiative offered at Buddhist temples. This figure represents the highest attendance since the program's inception in 2002, as reported by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism on Sunday.

A total of 349,219 participants, including 293,704 South Koreans and 55,515 foreign visitors, engaged in the program at 158 temples across the nation, reflecting a 5.1% increase from the prior year.

Initially developed to promote traditional Korean culture and to address accommodation shortages during the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, the temple stay program has witnessed significant growth over the last twenty years, with participation rising from just 2,500 guests at 33 temples in the inaugural year. To date, around 4.18 million people have experienced this unique program.

The Jogye Order aims to enhance the temple stay initiative further, aligning it with cultural and tourism resources in regions outside of Seoul to stimulate local economies.

Additionally, plans are underway to develop specialized programs aimed at mental health and stress relief, as well as initiatives designed for socially marginalized groups.

Meanwhile, the Jogye Order noted that only 81 individuals were ordained as monks last year, a significant drop from 226 in 2014, leading to concerns about the decreasing number of monks available for missionary and pastoral duties. This trend has been described as a “critical issue” that threatens the foundation of Korean Buddhism, prompting a focus on attracting younger generations through what is termed “hip Buddhism”, portraying the religion as vibrant, youthful, and culturally relevant.