Buddhist Monk Myeongjin, Former Abbot of Bongeunsa, Passes Away in Seogwipo Maritime Accident

Monk Myeongjin, a former abbot of Bongeunsa Temple, passed away today (August 22).

According to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, police, and fire authorities, the monk was rescued from the waters near Haye Port in Haye-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju Island, while floating in the water at 9:38 a.m. today. He was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead at around 10:28 a.m.

The Coast Guard estimates that he suffered the accident while practicing freediving, judging by the equipment he was wearing at the time of the rescue, and is currently investigating the exact circumstances of the incident.

His mortal remains have been moved to Seogwipo Medical Center.

Born in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, in 1950, Monk Myeongjin entered the Buddhist priesthood at Baekryeonam Hermitage of Haeinsa Temple in 1969 and received the novice precepts in 1974 with Monk Tanseong as his preceptor.

He led the reform of the Jogye Order in 1994, served as a member of the 11th Central Jonghoe (parliament) of the Jogye Order, and served as the vice chairperson of the Central Jonghoe from 1998 to 2002. He also served as the abbot of Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from 2006 to 2010.

Since his tenure as abbot of Bongeunsa, he had continuously voiced outspoken criticism against then-Jogye Order Executive Chief Jaseung and the administration of then-President Lee Myung-bak.

Due to this, he was subjected to illegal civilian surveillance by the National Intelligence Service at the time.

Amid conflicts with the executive headquarters surrounding the conversion of Bongeunsa into a direct-management temple, he continued to criticize the executive leadership through interviews and Buddhist services even after completing his term as abbot, leading to his defrocking disciplinary action in 2017.

Subsequently, in the nullification lawsuit filed by Monk Myeongjin against the disciplinary action, both the first and second-instance courts ruled in favor of the monk. Earlier this year, the Jogye Order and Monk Myeongjin agreed not to appeal to the Supreme Court, bringing the matter to a close and restoring his clerical status.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.