Announced: April 1, 1981.
Location: 500-23 Changcheon-dong, Seodaemunku, Seoul-shi 120-836, South Korea; phone: (82) 2-334-9100.
Site: 1 acre.
Exterior finish: Granite exterior.
Temple design: Modern adaptation of earlier six-spire design.
Dimensions: 178 feet by 71 feet; Angel Moroni statue is atop tallest spire at 112 feet.
Architects: Church architectural staff; local architect, Komerican Architects.
Construction adviser: Calvin Wardell.
Contractor: Woo Chang.
Rooms: Baptistry, celestial room, four ordinance rooms, three sealing rooms.
Total floor area: 28,057 square feet.
District: 16 stakes and seven districts in South Korea.
Groundbreaking, site dedication: May 9, 1983, by elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve.
Dedication: Dec. 14-15, 1985, by President Gordon B. Hinckley; 6 sessions.
Dedicatory Prayer
Done by President Spencer W. Kimball
Our Holy Father in Heaven, Thou who hath created our spirits and the heavens and the earth and all things therein, in the worthy name of Thy greatly Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we come to Thee this day in this beautiful edifice to dedicate it unto Thee, our Living God.
We thank Thee, our gracious Lord, that in this dispensation of the fulness of times Thou and Thy Beloved Son didst visit the earth and through the instrumentality of Thy chosen servant, Joseph Smith, Thy gospel was restored. Thus, after centuries of darkness, were the heavens reopened and the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son and Thy plan of life and salvation again offered to the children of Thy earthly kingdom.
We are grateful, our Father, that from the days of Joseph Smith until the present, Thou hast continued to reveal Thy mind and will to Thy mouthpiece, the Prophet and President of Thy Church and Kingdom here upon the earth. Remember Thy servant in love, we pray Thee, for his days have been many upon the earth. Lengthen his span of life and give to him health and strength and those gifts Thou seest are needful for him to lead Thy people in righteousness and truth. Likewise, we pray for the counselors in the First Presidency; bless these good and wise men for their faith and their devoted service unto Thee and Thy children.
Bless the special witnesses of Thy Beloved Son, the Twelve Apostles, that they may carry the gospel message throughout the length and breadth of the land. Give them Thy holy revelations, also. Bless the First Quorum of the Seventy, the Presiding Bishopric, the Regional Representatives, the leaders of stakes and missions, wards and branches, the educational institutions, the auxiliaries, and all who labor in Thy vineyard.
Our Father, bless us that we may live Thy commandments and follow Thy divine plan. Please forgive us our trespasses as we totally repent, and let us earn and enjoy the rich blessings Thou has promised to the faithful.
Father, we are concerned with the condition of the world of today and that nations seem to need only the striking of a spark to bring war and desolation and destruction. Bless, we pray Thee, the leaders of nations, that they may rule wisely and righteously, and give Thy people everywhere freedom to worship Thee. Stay the powers, our Father, that would bring us to the brink of annihilation.
But insomuch as nations repent and follow Thee, be gracious, our Father, and let Thy destroying angel pass by, and let Thy people be forgiven. Be merciful, O Lord, with Thy repentant ones when they have suffered and transformed their lives.
Our gracious Father, there are national gates which seemingly need to be unlocked and doors that need to be opened, and hearts of kings, presidents, emperors, and ministers which need to be softened, that they may permit the gospel to be taken to their people. Let Thy Spirit rest mightily upon them, we pray Thee.
Our Father, bless the countless millions on the earth, that they may receive Thy truth, and bless the missionaries, now more than thirty thousand strong, that nothing will prevail against them in their faithful presentation of Thy gospel plan to the world.
Bless the poor and the needy of Thy people Let not the cry of the widow and the orphan, the lonely and oppressed, go unheeded. Comfort those who mourn and give peace and blessed surcease to the sick and the afflicted.
We remember before Thee, our Father, the youth of Zion. Bear them up that they shall not falter in defending truth and right. Help them to be clean and worthy and instill in them a desire for eternal marriage in Thy Holy Temple.
Our Beloved Father, bless the daughters of Zion, we pray Thee, O Lord. Thou knowest our great love for them. Pour out precious gifts of wisdom, faith and knowledge upon them.
Bless this temple that it may be a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory, a house of eternal marriage, a house of sealings, and Thy house, the House of God, wherein Thy holy saving work may be done for the salvation of both the living and the dead.
Bless, we pray Thee, the presidency of this temple and the matron and all the officiators herein. Help them to create a sublime and holy atmosphere so that all ordinances may be performed with love and a sweet, spiritual tone that will cause the members to greatly desire to be here, and to return again and again.
Our Holy Father, we pray that Thou wilt bless this great nation, organized here in this choice land. Bless the President of this nation, the Congress, the Justice Department, the cabinet, the lawmakers and the law enforcers in states, counties, and cities, that liberty and justice may continue to be the foundation stones of our existence.
And now, our Father, we ask Thee to accept this house, the workmanship of the hands of Thy servants, this house in which Thou canst dwell forever.
We pray Thee, Heavenly Father, to accept this building in all its parts, from the foundation stones to the highest spire, on which the statue of Moroni stands; we ask Thee to protect it, to sanctify it and consecrate it.
We pray Thee to bless the walls, partitions, floors, ceilings, roof, the elevators, stairways, doors, windows and other openings; all things connected with the lighting, heating, and sanitary facilities, and all articles used in or connected with the holy ordinances administered here. Bless the veils and the altars, the baptismal font and the oxen on which it rests.
We pray Thee to bless all the furniture, locks and fastenings and all other appliances and appurtenances found in this temple and the annexes and all ornamentation thereon.
With the temple, we present the land on which it stands and all surrounding it, the walks and fences, the trees and plants and flowers and shrubbery. May they blossom beautifully and be pleasant to all, that these grounds may be to all a haven of peace and rest and holy meditation.
Father, we beseech Thee to protect this building and all its appurtenances from harm or destruction by fire or flood, or the rage of the elements, shafts of lightning and blasts of hurricanes, the upheavals of earthquakes, and all disturbances of any nature. Save it from any who, with evil design, would seek to desecrate its hallowed precincts.
And now, by the power of the Holy Priesthood Thou hast given us, we dedicate this building and all that pertains to it, together with all its furnishings and contents, to Thee, our Holy Father, and ask Thee to accept it and shower blessings upon it, in the worthy name of Thy Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen and Amen and Amen.
'Temple is the most peaceful place in the world'
SEOUL, Korea — There was no temple near Seoul when Hyoung Kun Lee and Sook Ran Choi wanted to be married in 1978. Both were stalwart members of the Church, but unable to attend any other temple, they chose to be married in civil ceremonies in a traditional wedding hall.
It seemed an almost impossible prospect that a temple would be built in the area. Still, they prayed for the day when they might be sealed in the House of the Lord. They didn't know how a temple would be built, but they believed that God would provide a way.
Their patience and prayers were rewarded seven years later when the Seoul Korea Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on Dec. 14, 1985.
They were sealed the next year to their two daughters, Ja Young Lee and Jung Min Lee.
Sister Choi (Korean custom holds that parents retain their family names, while the children take the family name of the father) remembers that day with teary-eyed joy, a memory of joy that still lingers. As they attended the temple, in her mind's eye, she envisioned her daughters in beautiful wedding ceremonies in that temple.
They consider it a blessing to live within a 20-minute drive of the temple. Such a close proximity, they feel, has opened opportunities to serve. For the past four years, they have served as temple workers on alternating Saturdays.
Their opportunity to serve came about when a missionary couple were unable to fulfill their assignments after suffering health problems. Known for their enthusiasm for the temple, Brother Lee and Sister Choi were called to serve. Their first assignment began at 5 a.m. the day following their interview.
"We really wait for those special Saturdays," said Brother Lee. "The temple is the most peaceful place in the world and it seems whenever we go, all of our troubles just take care of themselves."
Ja Young, now 17, recognizes some of the influence of the temple in her life. "Knowing where I came from, and that I can live with my family forever, brings peace and strength to my everyday life. It motivates me to live my life how Heavenly Father wants me to. Many people don't even know why they are here. That knowledge alone can direct one's life."
Jung Min, 16, was considering the blessings of the temple in her life recently after performing baptisms for the dead and said, "I try to make my decisions so that I can be worthy to attend the temple. I love the feelings I get there. The desire to go there affects my every decision."
"The Lord has blessed our family in ways that are uncountable," said Sister Choi. "The girls are very blessed to go to a school under favorable circumstances, where there are fewer temptations. Raising our children with confidence in the gospel has truly been a blessing."
"There has been nothing sacrificial about going to the temple or being a member of the Church," added Brother Lee. "It has been nothing but blessings. We are very happy. Why? Because we can go to the temple." — Earnest and Berna Jones
Houses of the Lord in far-away places cause great rejoicing
Seoul Korea Temple
Ground broken May 9, 1983, by Elder Marvin J. Ashton.
Dedicated Dec. 14, 1985, by President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Located in Seodaemun-ku west central Seoul.
Modern adaptation of earlier six-spired design.
SEOUL, KOREA - After the Seoul Korea Temple was dedicated, many of the Korean members gained testimonies of the importance of doing work for their kindred dead.
Among them was Kim Jung Shik, whose family had kept diligent genealogy records. "As we learned about the Church family history program, I became even more interested in my personal family records," he said.
He said that after the Korea temple was announced and dedicated, he submitted to the temple his direct line back to his first known ancestor, more than 50 generations.
Another who gained a testimony of doing work for his kindred dead was Whang Chung Youl, who had not submitted family records.
On Jan. 28, 1988, he went to the temple as he had often done, and during the random assignment of names from the temple's general file, he was given a slip with his father's name on it. He and those around him were very surprised.
"I never had such a meaningful endowment session as I had that day," he said. "That night, going home, I truly felt that my heart had been turned to my father and my ancestors. My father had worked so long for me when he was alive and now he had waited for me. . . . I was able to know how much my father loved me." - From Early Korean Saints, an anthology of personal histories compiled by Spencer J. Palmer and Shirley H. Palmer.
