Gochang Seonunsa Temple Cherry Blossoms 2026: A Serene Spring Escape

Today, a close friend needed a little boost, so we ventured out to Gochang to savor some delicious eel! Even though I jokingly grumbled about not having much 'use' for all that energy (eel is famous for boosting stamina, after all!), we still thoroughly enjoyed our meal. And since we were already in Gochang, we figured a leisurely stroll after our meal at Seonunsa Temple would be the perfect way to cap off the day.

I guess I just have amazing travel luck!

I honestly thought cherry blossom season was wrapping up everywhere, but to my delightful surprise, Seonunsa Temple's cherry blossoms were still in their glorious prime! With strong winds and rain forecasted to sweep in starting this evening, it felt like we caught the very last magical day.

We noticed the parking lot was undergoing some construction, but don't worry, it's incredibly vast, so finding a spot was no problem at all! As we walked out from the car, we spotted the Gochang Salt Exhibition and Sales Center.

And there's the Seonunsan bus stop, too!

Right in front of the entrance to Seonunsa Temple, leading from the parking area, we were greeted by absolutely stunning cherry blossoms!

Right at the entrance leading into Seonunsa Temple, you'll find an informative sign for Seonunsan Provincial Park.

We saw quite a few tourists arriving by tour bus.

But even with the tour groups, it still felt wonderfully serene, probably thanks to it being a weekday.

We strolled past the tourist information center.

Onward we walked, deeper into the serene path leading to Seonunsa Temple.

To our right, an expansive park unfolded, revealing itself as the beautiful Seonunsan Ecological Forest.

Along the path, we discovered a charming lineup of stalls, all selling Gochang's famous bokbunja (Korean black raspberries) and an array of tempting snacks.

You could find fresh bokbunja berries, bokbunja concentrate, and even bokbunja liquor – a true feast for berry lovers!

And behold, a breathtaking cherry blossom tunnel stretched out before us, an absolute dream!

As the cherry blossom rain fell,

the cherry blossom petals that fell like a flower rain onto the water,

and those that had just fallen onto the ground were incredibly beautiful.

Seonunsa, which was also a filming location for Dae Jang Geum (Jewel in the Palace).

I felt an even greater sense of welcome because I also had a small connection with Dae Jang Geum.

I had the honor of taking a photo with Ms. Lee Young-ae at the Dae Jang Geum filming site.

She's truly beautiful, isn't she?

Seonunsa Admission Fee

Seonunsan Provincial Park: Free Admission

Starting February 1, 2023

Previously, the admission fee was ~$3, but now it operates with free admission.

As you go inside and walk further,

you'll find a teahouse that feels like a traditional one, called Ggotmurut.

They even sold Ssanghwacha (a traditional herbal tea).

I imagine Seonunsa in winter would be incredibly romantic too.

Many people also participate in Temple Stays, I've noticed.

As you get closer to Seonunsa, the cherry blossoms fade, giving way to an abundance of maple trees.

I once made a video of Seonunsa's autumn foliage, I'll share the link for you.

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The atmosphere felt quite different from Seonunsa at that time.

I had a cup of tea here in the autumn, and construction was underway then.

Currently, the Daeungjeon (Main Hall) is under construction, and it's said that the fifth pillar of the Daeungjeon has been faithfully recreated.

The sculpture above is said to be the work of students from the Department of Hanok Architecture at Jeonbuk National University's Gochang Campus. ​​

With the flowers blooming so beautifully, I also captured the view of Yeongsanjeon Hall.

This is the panoramic view of Seonunsa from Yeongsanjeon Hall.

There was a natural spring in front of Yeongsanjeon Hall.

This is a place that sells various products.

During the autumn foliage season, they'd open their doors wide and business would be booming, but it's closed now.

Many people must have stacked stones and made their wishes here.

I also took these words of truth to heart.

After exploring the temple, I headed back to the parking lot.

On the path back to the parking lot, a shower of flower petals danced around us.

This was the road to Gochang Seonunsa Temple, adorned with a magical cherry blossom rain.

Watching the cherry blossom rain in slow motion was absolutely breathtaking.

The path leading back to the parking lot was also bursting with cherry blossoms in full bloom.

It was just a short stroll after lunch, but with the impending rain, the slightly overcast sky actually made the experience even more magical.

In my next post, I'll be sharing a fantastic eel restaurant in Gochang that I visited.

And so concluded our enchanting walk at Gochang Seonunsa Temple, under a gentle shower of cherry blossoms.