Spatiality of Two Urban Religious Spaces in Seoul: A Case Study of Myeong-dong Cathedral and Bongeun Buddhist Temple Precincts

Abstract

In this study, the spatial characteristics of urban religious spaces were explored. A Catholic (Myeong-dong) cathedral and a Buddhist (Bongeun) temple, both situated in the Seoul urban environment, were included as representative urban religious spaces in Korea. Each space has its own unique spatiality, derived from the related historical, cultural, and religious development processes. The two religious precincts serve as both a religious space and a social area for the contemporary urban population, thus they were examined to investigate the comparative results of the literature review, the on-site impressions, and the social survey's tendencies. The results indicated distinct spatiality and spatial functions: the Catholic cathedral precinct plays a significant role in social functions, while the Buddhist temple precinct is critical to religious functions.