Those two attractions, along with the Tripitaka Koreana ( a collection of woodblock texts of Buddhist scripture, made in the 13th century), were added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list in 1995.
             Today Korean Buddhism involves more than 10,000 temples and 20,000 monks, and is the belief system of 15 million Koreans (about one-third of the population). More than 900 of those 10,000 temples are greater than 50 years old. Buddhism accounts for more than 80 percent of Korean cultural resources designated as national treasures.
             Now that foreign visitors are taking an interest in Buddhist monasticism, Korean Buddhists are starting to market traditional Buddhist ceremonies and ascetic practices as cultural products. Already, some temples admit tourists for a close look at what goes on inside a monastery.
             The Buddhists think they can encourage tourists to look beyond the tangible side of Buddhism, namely its temples and pagodas, and experience Buddhist culture on a more intimate level. Unique Korean Buddhist ceremonies for tourists are planed, such as traditional dining rituals of Buddhist monks.
             Plans also call for the tea ceremony to become a tourist attraction. Many temples are opening tea houses to draw tourists. Most of these temples sell traditional teas made by monks themselves.Actually, this opening of Buddhist monasteries to outsiders is not a new phenomenon. For some time, major temples have admitted Koreans and foreign visitors to a summer training course that lets guests withdraw from the chaotic earthly world for a while.
             Though physically strenuous, and very brief (only four nights and five days), this experience is seen as an opportunity for participants to recharge themselves by sampling the monastic lifestyle.
             Worship before the image of Buddha, sitting in meditation, lecture and tea ceremony
             Sokkuram Grotto is 3 km away from Pulguksa Temple by a short cut along the
             mountain ...