Yangsan City has officially begun construction on a new cultural space project inside Tongdosa Temple aimed at improving visitor convenience while strengthening preservation efforts at one of Korea’s most important UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 24, marking the start of a project designed to better separate pilgrimage areas from visitor rest and cultural zones inside the temple grounds. Tongdosa, home to national treasures including Daeungjeon Hall and the Geumgang Gyedan ordination platform, has seen a steady rise in both domestic and overseas visitors in recent years, prompting calls for improved use of internal space.

UNESCO had also recommended clearer separation between worship areas and general visitor facilities.

Under the plan, Yangsan City and Tongdosa will develop new supporting infrastructure near two parking areas. A two-story convenience building near the second parking lot will house a temple food restaurant and Buddhist goods shop, while a separate cultural facility near the fourth parking lot will include a Buddhist library and exhibition hall.

Officials said the project is expected to protect Tongdosa’s religious atmosphere by reducing congestion in key spiritual areas while providing visitors with more organized cultural and relaxation spaces befitting the temple’s world heritage status.