A travel tradition of mine is to see at least one cemetery in each country I have the pleasure of visiting. My experience in Bali was limited, as the majority of the population are Hindu and believe in cremation. The cemeteries there are for temporary burials, so were very small and underwhelming. My visit to the idyllic Yeongnak Park Cemetery in Busan South Korea however, was perhaps one of the most peaceful places I have ever seen.
Getting There
Visitors will take the metro out to the Beom-Eosa stop. From there follow your maps app (link here) for a 10-minute easy walk up a gentle hill and away from the town. Busan is quite a sprawling city and this cemetery is a ways out.
The Graves
First thing you will notice is the idyllic setting that this cemetery is placed at. Within rolling hills, tall shade trees and countryside quiet, you are surrounded by beautiful nature. Walk down any small roadway and beside you are the graves, neatly lined up in rows.
The most recent graves will have quite a unique mound atop them. Eventually this settles and is covered with lovely soft grasses dancing in the gentle breeze.
Each grave has a single headstone and on either side is a vase for artificial flowers only. There is not a single piece of garbage or debris in this entire vast space.
Monuments
Down one walkway are various monuments, I know not what they are for, of course there was no English on them. The little ones are tucked into the bushes and I did notice one person approaching the tallest one to pray. On the opposite side of the cemetery was another section with stone figures, some tucked into the trees and others lining the road.
Temple
Walking the main road through the cemetery, one will pass the temple. I entered and had a look around, marvelling at the ornate painting on the ceiling of the main building. Beside this are two pagodas, a large brass bell and a constant chanting of prayer and music emitting through a loud outdoor speaker. There was not a single sole in sight.
Near the temple is a tranquil pond with fountains, surrounded by flowering hydrangeas, tall bamboo rustling in the breeze and balloon shaped flags.
Cemetery
This cemetery is huge. There are fields upon fields of graves traversing up a hillside and consuming the flats. Down from the temple is a large funeral home and somewhere on the site is a crematorium and all that entails.
I walked around for well over an hour. I saw one person visiting a grave site and one person praying at a monument. That was it. Me, the wild flowers, grasses, bright sunshine and majestic landscape. I think I can say without a doubt, this is the most peaceful and heaven like setting I have ever seen for a cemetery.
