Temple in the Snow

My mum and I always dreamt of seeing a temple in the snow and wondered if this would ever happen. We’ d seen the idyllic pictures of temples in the snowy mountains of Korea and Japan but had never seen a snowy temple for ourselves – until that one day in February of this year. The forecast predicted one day of snowfall in Gwangju on the 17th, and I couldn’t have been more excited! I got out all my winter gear and headed out to one of my favorite buildings in Gwangju – the Traditional Arts and Culture Center near Mt. Mudeung.

The scenery was just like in paintings and postcards. There was hardly anyone on the road, so the snow was pristine white, and only my footprints left a mark. It was still snowing heavily at the time. I took pictures of all angles of the traditional arts center, a beautiful hanok (한옥) structure enveloped in cotton-white snow with icicles dangling from its traditional-style eaves.

Further up the road were two temples: Munbinjeong-sa (문빈정사) and Jeungsim-sa (증심사). I couldn’t stop taking pictures, trying to capture this magical moment, and only wishing my mother were with me to see what I was seeing. A monk came out to greet me and invited me in for a cup of tea. The tea and kind conversation were heartwarming. The experience was unforgettable. I might not see a temple in the snow again, but the memory will last forever.

The Photographer
Originally from Belgium, Aline Verduyn has lived abroad for 20 years and is currently earning a master’s in Korean language education at Chonnam National University. In Korea, she has previously lived in Busan, Suwon, and Daegu, and has just crossed the one-year mark in Gwangju. She is very happy living here. Instagram: @gwangjumiin