The beautiful Hyangilam Temple in Yeosu is well known for its breathtaking views of the sunrise – especially on New Year’s morning. This morning (Sunday) a fire swept through the temple complex and destroyed three of the eight main buildings. Fortunately none of the 20 visitors at the temple when the fire broke out were injured. Built in 644 by the Buddhist priest Wonhyo, it was originally known as Wontongam and referred to as The Holy Turtle Hermitage due to the many rocks in the area that look like turtle shells, but in 1715 the name was changed to Hyangilam meaning a Hermitage Standing Towards the Sun.
According to the Korea Times, prior to the fire, 50-80,000 visitors were expected to visit the temple over the next couple of weeks to watch the sunrise. Despite the fire, a city government official said that the annual the event (here is last year’s) will likely take place, an official with the city government said.
The pictures were taken from the Hankook Ilbo and Yonhap News
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Thanks for the news, Robert. Mildly tragic, especially considering the timing, but i’m sure the Halls will be rebuilt soon — this is a much-loved sacred site. Sure to be much-visited during Yeosu’s 2012 World Expo. For those who have yet to have the wonderful experience of visiting this hermitage, it’s perched on the eastern tip of Geum-o-san [Golden-Crow Mountain], in the southeast corner of a medium-sized island called Dolsan-do, reachable by a bridge from the southeast foot of the 30-km Yeosu Peninsula. A long long drive to get there! This happens to be one of Korea’s 33 main shrines for veneration of Gwanse-eum-bosal the Bodhisattva of Compassion…
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any info on what caused the fire ? This is such a pity, hope next time i’m in Korea (end of January) i will have the time to visit some other area outside the usual Seoul hotspots
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