[Comprehensive] "Parasite Selling Buddha" 'Yoo Soyu' Controversy Hye-min Sunim, Activity Suspension

Appearing on a Variety Show, Reveals 'Namsan View' House
'Real Estate Ownership' Controversy... Monk Hyegak States "Hyemin Is Just a Business Owner and Actor"

The home of Monk Hyemin, who appeared on the tvN variety show 'On and Off' on the 7th./Photo by tvN variety show 'On and Off' broadcast screen capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seul-gi] Hye-min Sunim (47), author of the book 'When You Stop, Things Finally Gather,' recently apologized on the 15th, saying "I repent," amid controversies over real estate ownership.

On this day, Hye-min Sunim wrote on his Facebook, "I repent to everyone who was hurt and disappointed by this incident. From today, I will step down from all activities and return to the public Seon center to study the Buddha's teachings again and diligently practice meditation and prayer," he said.

He added, "Due to my shortcomings, I caused discomfort to many people. It is a great fault of mine for not fulfilling the duties of a monk," and bowed his head, saying, "I will return to my original intention, reflect on my lacking self, and deeply study the essence of a practitioner's mind training again."

Earlier, on the 7th, Hye-min Sunim appeared on the tvN entertainment program 'On and Off' and revealed his home with a 'Namsan view' overlooking N Seoul Tower in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, which sparked controversy.

During the broadcast, Hye-min Sunim said, "I do not live in a temple. Monks living in the city stay in a temple located in a commercial building. It is too small, so I have prepared separate accommodation to live."

According to a report by Chosun Biz on the 13th, Hye-min Sunim sold a building (detached house) he owned in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to a Buddhist organization in March 2018.

However, since the representative of the organization has the same secular name (birth name before ordination) as Hye-min Sunim, questions arose as to whether Hye-min Sunim is still the actual owner of the building.

Meanwhile, Hyeon-gak Sunim, known as the 'Blue-eyed Practitioner,' criticized on the 15th, "(Hye-min Sunim) is just a celebrity. He is nothing but a thief who does not understand any of Shakyamuni's teachings."

Hyeon-gak Sunim attracted great attention by publishing 'Manhaeng - From Harvard to Hwage Temple' in 1999, which described his Buddhist initiation and practice experiences. Since then, in 2016, he pointed out problems in foreign novice training and the superstition of Buddhism, left Korean Buddhism, and has been running a Seon practice-related center in Europe.

On this day, Hyeon-gak Sunim wrote on his Facebook, "He is nothing but a parasite heading to hell by selling the Buddha's teachings," and "He is merely a businessman and actor. He has no genuine experience of true meditation. Europeans who encounter his books complain that they have a very superficial sense of the essence of Seon (Zen) Buddhism. Much energy must be spent correcting the serious mistakes of his nonsensical teachings," he repeatedly criticized.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.