Monk Criticizing Election Interference Allegations Suffers Group Assault

Jogye Order Union Member Assaulted by Two Monks on the Morning of the 14th
Controversy Arises from Sole Candidacy in the 37th Jogye Order Next Chief Administrator Election

In August 2013, at a park near Jongno-gu, Seoul, Monk Jeokgwang was forcibly dragged away and assaulted by monks while trying to hold a press conference regarding allegations of habitual gambling against then Jogye Order Chief Executive Venerable Jaseung.
[Photo by MBC 'PD Notebook' YouTube video capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] A controversy has arisen over a group assault incident involving monks in the Buddhist community. Along with a recent case where a Jogye Order union member was assaulted by monks, the 'Monk Jeokgwang Assault Incident' that occurred nine years ago is also being brought up again.

According to the Buddhist community on the 15th, around 10 a.m. the previous day near Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Park Jung-kyu, the Planning and Public Relations Director of the Jogye Order union, who was attempting to criticize former Jogye Order Chief Executive Officer Ja-seung's alleged election interference, was assaulted by two monks.

Previously, allegations of election interference by former Chief Executive Officer Ja-seung surfaced during the 37th Jogye Order next Chief Executive Officer election held from the 9th to the 11th. At that time, Monk Jin-woo, who was serving as the head of the sect's education center, was the sole candidate. According to the Jogye Order election regulations, if there is only one candidate, the candidate is confirmed as the winner without a voting process, effectively securing Monk Jin-woo's position as the next Chief Executive Officer. However, inside and outside the Jogye Order, claims were raised that Ja-seung, a behind-the-scenes power figure in the sect, was involved in the overall election process, including the consensus nomination of a single candidate.

In this context, on the 14th, Mr. Park staged a solo protest urging the cessation of Ja-seung's election interference. It is presumed that during the protest, Mr. Park was assaulted while protesting against monks who tried to stop the demonstration.

Although police officers who arrived at the scene tried to intervene, the monks forcibly subdued Mr. Park and continued the assault. One of the monks involved even poured a plastic bucket containing a contaminant presumed to be feces onto Mr. Park.

Following media coverage of the incident, a significant uproar has ensued. Additionally, the 'Monk Jeokgwang Assault Incident' from nine years ago is being recalled. Both incidents share similarities in that the person criticized was former Chief Executive Officer Ja-seung, and the monks inflicted merciless violence on the victims.

On the 14th, a Jogye Order union member preparing for a one-person protest near Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, regarding allegations of election interference by former Jogye Order Chief Executive Officer Ja Seung, was assaulted by monks.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Monk Jeokgwang Assault Incident occurred in August 2013 near the Jogye Order headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at Ujeong Park. At that time, Monk Jeokgwang was forcibly dragged away by monks who held his arms and legs while he was about to hold a press conference raising allegations of habitual gambling against Chief Executive Officer Ja-seung. In the video from that time, Monk Jeokgwang appears frightened and appeals, saying, "This is not right, Republic of Korea. This is not right, police."

According to the prosecution, Monk Jeokgwang was indiscriminately beaten by several monks and administrative staff. He sustained injuries including a fractured toe with an estimated four weeks of recovery. After the incident, Monk Jeokgwang reportedly relied on psychiatric treatment and medication due to various aftereffects. On the other hand, a monk who participated in the assault and received a fine later rose to a prominent position within the sect.

In this regard, in 2017, Monk Myeongjin conducted a hunger strike demanding the eradication of deep-rooted evils in the Buddhist community. At that time, he mentioned the Monk Jeokgwang Assault Incident, criticizing, "Is the Jogye Order a 'gangster sect'? Even gangsters don't do such things." He added, "The public knows that Buddhism has fallen this far, but they remain silent," and "I am fasting with a sincere hope that they will take action."

Meanwhile, regarding the assault on Mr. Park, the police arrested the monks as flagrante delicto but later released them. These monks also claimed to have been assaulted by Mr. Park and requested medical treatment; they are currently reported to have been sent home. The police plan to conduct further investigations into both the monks and Mr. Park.

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