Songbulsa, Buddhist temple in Sariwon, North Korea.

Songbulsa stands on the slope of Mt. Jongbang, about 8 km north of Sariwon, within the walls of Jongbang Fortress. Its six buildings surround a central courtyard: Ungjin Hall, rebuilt in 1327, is a seven-bay hall 22.75 m wide and 6.7 m deep, facing west, with a gabled roof and bracket sets. A five-story stone pagoda and a memorial stele stand in the grounds.

The temple was established in 898 and contains some of North Korea's oldest wooden structures from the medieval period. Key buildings like Ungjin Hall were reconstructed in 1327, and Kukrak Hall received its current architectural form in 1374.

The temple serves as a working place for Buddhist practice and ceremony in North Korea, where visitors can observe how religious traditions are maintained today. The painted walls and ritual spaces show how faith is expressed through the physical spaces and objects within the complex.

Access to the temple requires official authorization and visits are arranged through guided tours with specific rules about photography and behavior inside the complex. Plan to arrive during daylight hours and follow your guide closely, as the site is remote and independent exploration is not permitted.

The temple is the setting of the song "Night at Songbulsa", with lyrics by poet Yi Eun-sang and music by violinist Hong Nan-pa, opening with the line about the temple bell ringing deep in the night. The five-story stone pagoda in front of Kukrak Hall is dated to the Koryo period and is listed as a national treasure together with the temple.