The first church's missionaries arrived in South Korea in 1954. Some years later, church apostleBoyd K. Packer was assigned to travel to South Korea and find a place in which to build a temple. After considering several locations, Packer eventually chose the property which the church had purchased almost two decades earlier. In 1981, the announcement was made for a temple in Seoul.
Gordon B. Hinckley, of the church's First Presidency, dedicated the Seoul Korea Temple on December 14, 1985.[1] The temple's walls feature Korean granite with six white spires. A traditional, tiled "hundred-year roof" gives the temple a uniquely Korean appearance. Inside, the temple is decorated with delicate brush paintings, intricate wooden molding, silk wall coverings, gold leaf, dome chandeliers, and white lacquer furniture inlaid with mother of pearl.[citation needed]
After the temple was dedicated, a subway system was built in conjunction with the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The system included a line that ended right at the base of the hill upon which the temple was built, making the temple even more accessible for church members.
The Seoul Korea Temple has a total of 28,057 square feet (2,606.6 m2), four ordinance rooms, and three sealing rooms.
In 2020, like all the church's other temples, the Seoul Korea Temple was closed temporarily during the year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.[2]
Presidents
Notable presidents of the temple include Spencer J. Palmer (1988–90) and Han In Sang (1996–2000). As of November 2019, the temple president is Chiwon Kim.[citation needed]
