Dog-friendly temple stay program helps owners and pets find peace

The program was dubbed “Daengple Stay.” It is jointly organized by the Korea Tourism Organization, Jeungpyeong County and Ban Life, a platform for travelers with dogs.

Bori and his owner visit Mireuksa, a Buddhist temple in North Chungcheong, for a temple stay experience. [SEONG YEON-JAE]

Bori is an adopted dog who is about six years old. He’s from a notorious shelter called Aerinwon in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, that was shut down by law enforcement officials in 2019. The person who was operating the shelter was arrested for abusing dogs, with the shelter being dubbed “the gates of hell for dogs.” Many dogs were starving to death and larger dogs were killing smaller, weaker dogs and eating them, while newborn pups were dying due to malnutrition and infections.

Having survived in such a traumatizing environment for at least four years before being adopted in 2021, Bori has developed a range of problematic behavioral and psychological characteristics, such as being overly alert and easily startled by sudden movements or noises. He is constantly on guard for danger and unable to mingle with strangers or even other dogs. This eventually led this reporter, Bori’s foster parent, to have a hard time taking Bori on holidays or even to dog parks.

It’s been a slow process, but Bori has been adjusting to the real world, outside the confined cage. He gradually opened his heart up to humans — or at least, did not get frightened when a person passed by. It felt like Bori was ready for some mingling, but not so much that could intimidate him.

Just in time, there was an opening for a one-day Buddhist temple stay at Mireuksa in North Chungcheong for reporters where they could bring along their dogs. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for timid Bori’s first play date.

Bori, donning a Buddhist gown, a rosary around his neck and a lotus lantern hat, enjoys his temple stay experience at Mireuksa. [YIM SEUNG-HYE]

About eight reporters came along and brought their furry companions — Arong, Saebom, Xuebi, Toto, Sarang, Haeri and Bori — on this recent media trip to Mireuksa in Jeungpyeong county. Buddhist temple stays have been popular programs for both locals and foreign travelers to Korea, as people can have an opportunity to meditate and relax inside a quiet monastery.

Upon arrival, which takes about two hours by car from central Seoul, the reporters and their furry children received gray Buddhist robes and rosaries. At first, Bori was anxious to be around other people and dogs. But he soon found peace, as most of the participants were abstaining from speaking too loudly and kept their distance from others while also trying very hard to make sure their dogs were behaving well inside the Buddhist temple.

This program was dubbed “Daengple Stay,” a newly coined term using the words “daengdaengi,” a cute slang word used to describe puppies in Korea, and “temple stay.” It is jointly organized by the Korea Tourism Organization, Jeungpyeong County and Ban Life, a platform for travelers with dogs.

Lee Hye-mi, founder of Ban Life, said she started her business in 2019 after becoming aware of the demand from people with pet dogs who wanted to do more together with their pets. For this program, which began early this year with a break during summer due to the hot temperatures, Lee had to knock on the doors of different Buddhist temples, and Mireuksa was the one that gave her the green light.

Ven. Jeong-gak, the head monk of Mireuksa, also has a dog named Hwaoem. The head monk's pet was also a stray dog that casually visited the temple for food about four years ago. She first tried to see if there was an owner, but realized it was a stray dog. The two became “best friends,” and Ven. Jeong-gak gave him the name Hwaoem, which means Buddha’s disciple and monk’s dog.

“There are many monks who raise dogs but never allow them to enter into the main prayer room, as they think it should be sacred,” said Ven. Jeong-gak. “But nowhere in Buddhist teachings does it state that dogs are not allowed into the prayer hall, but only to show loving kindness to all beings including animals. All lives are equal and precious, and the temple should be open to not only people but to all living things.”

Bori, center, with Ven. Jeong-gak, head monk of Mireuksa on the monk’s seating cushion [YIM SEUNG-HYE]

At Mireuksa, all accompanying dogs can run around, take naps inside the prayer room, or even sit in Jeong-gak’s seat.

“You don’t like to sit on a hard wooden floor either, right? I totally understand,” Jeong-gak said with a broad smile as she found Bori sitting on her golden sitting cushion inside the prayer hall, where the participants had gathered after lunch to learn how to perform Buddhism's 108 bows with their dogs.

“It’s not you, the dog owners, who have brought your dogs here today, but your dogs that have brought you here,” Jeok-gak said to the participants during tea time. “I hope this time today becomes a meaningful turning point in your lives.”

“I was so disappointed in people, but Haeom comforted me,” she added. “Dogs can read people’s minds, which people can’t read. Then, can we really say we are better than them?”

Daengple Stay is a monthly program, which is open to everyone with pet dogs. The program began in early summer, but after three editions, it had to come to a stop due to hot temperatures. It resumed again in October. According to Ban Life, tickets get released every month through its app, but they have been selling out in about 30 seconds.

During the program, participants can experience temple food, listen to Ven. Jeong-gak’s words and write their wishes on hanji (Korean traditional paper) and burn them. They can also take selfies with their dogs.

Participants learn how to make a lotus lantern at Mireuksa. [YIM SEUNG-HYE]

Yang Su-bae, director of the Korea Tourism Organization’s Sejong and North Chungcheong Office said that the tourism organization plans to expand the temple stay programs for dogs, starting with North Chungcheong, after witnessing its immense popularity, “which will in turn, help boost local tourism.”

There are no restrictions on the size of the dog or its breed. One person can bring up to two dogs. The owner must bring the dog’s snacks, lunch and a leash. The program costs 79,000 won ($57) for one person and one dog, 119,000 won for two people and one dog and 159,000 won for two people and two dogs.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]