Wolmyeongdong—situated in Seokmakri village, Jinsan area, Gumsan county in Choongnam province, is God's Natural Temple which the Teacher Myung-Seok Jung ,with dedication, love and [ great] effort, has been in the process of making together with his disciples since 1989. Since long ago it has been called "The Valley of Bright Moonlight, or 'Dalbakgol' because there the moon shines brightly. However, when the Teacher Myeong-Seok Jeong prayed, the Lord spoke to him in revelation saying, "Numerous people will gather here like Myeongdong in Seoul," he changed the name of the valley to Wolmyeongdong.
As you climb up the hill following the steep concrete road after the winding asphalt road comes to an end just at the point you would start to wonder in disappointment, ‘Is there really going to be anything special here?’ the beautiful form of a pavilion roof rising up above a pond catches the eye, and you begin to marvel at its beauty. If you follow the road just a bit more and come up next to the pavilion, you are welcomed by [the sight of] a big sportsfield. Various rocks of curious shapes and pine trees are laid out harmoniously like [the landscape in an] Asian painting, and its grandeur strikes every visitor with admiration.
Before that sense of admiration fades away, a field of grass as soft as a carpet catches the eye [creating a feeling of comfort and sense of peace like a progidal being embraced in his parent’s arms]. The boulder inscribed with the words 'Natural Temple' next to the grass lawn further adds to its impact. [In addition,] the clear spring water that flows beneath the lawn has brought miraculous healing from all kinds of pain and suffering to numerous people .
Daedoon mountain, which can be seen in the distance beyond the Natural Temple, appears as if it is trying to embrace everything in its arms. It is known as the golden river of the south western region of Korea. It rises up like an ornamental screen behind the Natural Temple and the awesome sight combined with the man-made landscaping in the foreground elevates the beauty to its height.
[Here,] Heaven and the Earth are beautifully and perfectly in harmony so that one cannot tell apart what is nature and what is man-made. In the midst of this beauty, Wolmyeongdong is a place where a precious meeting of human being’s love for God and God's love for mankind takes place.
Teacher Myeong-Seok Jeong, who developed Wolmyeongdong says to anyone and everyone, "Come to this place and praise the Holy Trinity who saved [our] lives." When they first began extensive rock landscape construction, they called in outside experts and began the construction work. This was because the Teacher Myeong Seok Jeong did not have any experience working with rocks whatsoever. However, not too long after the construction began, all the outside experts left. Their reason was that rocks that were used for the construction were too big and the work was too dangerous. In such a difficult situation, the Teacher suggested to the disciples :"Let’s build the rock landscape ourselves." There was no other solution. His disciples replied, "We have no experience, so how can we do it?" At this the Teacher responded saying "Can anyone learn how to construct a rock landscape from their mother’s womb?”
From that day on, the Teacher began the construction work as he prayed. All throughout his life, he has been a person who has been living focused on fulfilling God's will rather than his own. He began his days with dawn prayer, and he lived relying on God all day long, pouring out his enthusiasm trying to build something based on the rough sketch of the design that God gave him. According to the Lord's words of inspiration that he received, "Whether rocks or trees, if they are not placed in their rightful position, they will lose their beauty. Therefore, plant them and place them at their appropriate places," the Teacher received the design from God for each rock and each tree, and built, planted, and took care of them with his disciples. Twenty years of construction has passed and there is no longer any trace of desolation of the past in today's Wolmyeongdong. This land that used to be lonely and treacherous because it was so isolated has now turned into a place where crowds of people come, and it has been transformed into such a beautiful and peaceful Natural Temple.
People come for all kinds of reasons, but to those who are weary, lonely, and tired out in their hearts and bodies, God gives them encouragement and hope through love and healing, and to those who want to give thanksgiving and praise, God is with them with the blessings of joy. The Teacher Myeong-Seok Jeong said, " after meeting God, my life that was worthless before has been transformed, and the land of my hometown that used to be so worthless has now been transformed into a priceless temple. In the same way, I wish that everyone will transform and succeed!"
- Illustration by Kim Deok-min- Photograph by Star Photograph Department