Rev. WonGong So

Rev. WonGong (she/her), (affectionately known as Rev. Wow!) is a lifetime dedicated dharma teacher. She started her training in 1988 and was ordained a Kyomunim (dharma teacher) in 1994 after seven years of intensive training in Korea. She subsequently served in the Gangnam Temple in Seoul and the Rockville Temple in Maryland. She obtained a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland and worked as a therapist and for Child Protective Services in North Carolina.

A pioneering Won Buddhist dharma teacher, she has established temples in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a guest lecturer at schools, colleges and meditation centers, teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation to people of all ages and backgrounds.

Rev. WonGong leads workshops, retreats, and youth dharma camps, integrating creative forms of meditation—body movement,vocalizing & breathing techniques, guided meditation, and laughter. She is active in the international interfaith community and is a leading Korean-to-English translator of dharma teachings, serving as a spiritual bridge between East and West.

Rev. WonGong loves gardening and singing. She released two albums: Chants of Samadhi for Daily Practice and Chants for Healing.