<p>In his book, "Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist", Stephen Batchelor, Spiegel &amp; Grau, Random House, 2010, describes his experience of doing just this in 1981.  Batchelor's first Zen retreat was at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songgwangsa" rel="nofollow">Songgwangsa</a>, under the guidance of Kusan Sunim, and he stayed until 1984, a year after Kusan Sunim's death.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-01T00:13:17.493Z
Thank you for answering. Beware that [this article](http://www.gaia-images.com/photographe/songgwangsa/) suggests that few people at the temple speak English in depth (and according to his book, in 1981 Stephen Batchelor seems to have been the first English-speaker there). The article mentions Hyon Gak Sunim as notably English-speaking (but perhaps he too was only visiting Songgwangsa and not permanently there).
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-12-31T23:46:58.420Z
2015-12-31T23:46:58.420Z
Scott
<p>There's <a href="http://www.seoulzen.center/about-the-center" rel="nofollow">The Hwa Gye Sa International Zen Center</a>. I know nothing of it but its web site (i.e. that it's "international", Zen, next to Seoul, and has retreats with an application form and an email address); and that in 2007 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqzyPSevzA" rel="nofollow">Hyon Gak Sunim</a> was teaching there.</p>

<p>It also <a href="http://www.seoulzen.center/links" rel="nofollow">a page with three or four links</a> to other places (one of which is Mu Sang Sa).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-01T00:54:11.070Z
2016-01-01T14:38:49.337Z
2016-01-01T14:38:49.337Z
ChrisW
<p>I would like to attend a 3 months "rains retreat" (Kyol-Che), in a Zen (Seon) temple in South Korea. I would have to go to a temple where they give instructions in English, though.</p>

<p>'Mu Sang Sa' Temple  (which I hope is way cheaper for monks) seems to organize two 3 months retreat a year. Do you know other places?</p>

<personal-practice><zen><meditation-zazen><retreat>
Where to do a 'Rains Retreat' in South Korea?
# Where to do a 'Rains Retreat' in South Korea?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-26)

I would like to attend a 3 months "rains retreat" (Kyol-Che), in a Zen (Seon) temple in South Korea. I would have to go to a temple where they give instructions in English, though.

'Mu Sang Sa' Temple (which I hope is way cheaper for monks) seems to organize two 3 months retreat a year. Do you know other places?

**Tags:** personal-practice, zen, meditation-zazen, retreat


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-12-31. Score: 1

In his book, "Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist", Stephen Batchelor, Spiegel & Grau, Random House, 2010, describes his experience of doing just this in 1981. Batchelor's first Zen retreat was at [Songgwangsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songgwangsa), under the guidance of Kusan Sunim, and he stayed until 1984, a year after Kusan Sunim's death.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Thank you for answering. Beware that [this article](http://www.gaia-images.com/photographe/songgwangsa/) suggests that few people at the temple speak English in depth (and according to his book, in 1981 Stephen Batchelor seems to have been the first English-speaker there). The article mentions Hyon Gak Sunim as notably English-speaking (but perhaps he too was only visiting Songgwangsa and not permanently there).  

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### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-01. Score: 1

There's [The Hwa Gye Sa International Zen Center](http://www.seoulzen.center/about-the-center). I know nothing of it but its web site (i.e. that it's "international", Zen, next to Seoul, and has retreats with an application form and an email address); and that in 2007 [Hyon Gak Sunim](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rqzyPSevzA) was teaching there.

It also [a page with three or four links](http://www.seoulzen.center/links) to other places (one of which is Mu Sang Sa).


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