[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Choi Eun-young] Ven. Hyeongak, who left the Korean Buddhist community after 25 years and is now active in Europe, targeted Ven. Hyemin, calling him "just a celebrity and a thief."
On the 15th, Ven. Hyeongak posted a photo of Ven. Hyemin on his Facebook and fiercely criticized him, saying, "(He is) just a celebrity. Nothing but a thief who knows nothing of Shakyamuni's teachings."
He continued, "He is just a parasite heading to hell by selling the Buddha's teachings," sharply criticizing him.
Earlier, Ven. Hyeongak also shared a post stating, "Currently, Korean Buddhism is really X-like Buddhism," along with a YouTube content titled 'Hyemin, the monk crazy for money and fame,' harshly criticizing him.
Quoting Ven. Hyemin's writings and photos from New York, he pointed out, "Buddhism? Practice? Truly a filthy businessman. Just an XXX selling Buddhism," adding, "He is merely a businessman and actor. He has no genuine experience in true meditation."
Ven. Hyeongak is a foreign monk who attended Yale University and Harvard Graduate School. It is known that he decided to ordain after listening to the Dharma talk of Great Master Soongsan in 1990. He played a significant role in promoting Korean Buddhism worldwide through his positions as head monk of Hyeonjeongsa Temple and director of the International Seon Center at Hwagyesa Temple. In 1999, he published 'Pilgrimage: From Harvard to Hwagyesa,' documenting his introduction to Buddhism and his practice journey.
However, in July 2016, he suddenly announced his departure from Korea, openly criticizing Korean Buddhist culture. He pointed out issues such as foreign monk event education problems and the superstition of Buddhism, criticizing, "Foreign monks in Korea are merely decorations of the Jogye Order."
Meanwhile, Ven. Hyemin recently attracted attention by sharing his 'full ownership daily life' on tvN's 'On and Off.' Especially, living in his home in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, with a great view of Namsan rather than a temple, commuting to a startup company to develop a meditation app, enjoying rabokki, and using expensive electronic devices aired on TV, have led netizens to criticize him, questioning whether it is 'full ownership' rather than non-attachment.
Subsequently, controversies over landlord status and speculation on capital gains arose.
A YouTuber sarcastically said, "Hyemin keeps saying 'people are unhappy because they compare,' but he went to the U.S. as a high school student, obtained citizenship, didn't serve in the military, worked as a professor, then came to Korea, became a monk preaching non-attachment, lives in a two-story house in Insadong worth about 3 billion won, and gives a few lectures. How can such a life understand the hopeless younger generation?"
Ven. Hyemin's side has not provided a clear explanation regarding the controversies surrounding him so far. He has only stated, "I have conveyed it to the person in charge," and "I have nothing more to say." With Ven. Hyeongak's criticism added, attention is focused on whether he can overcome the controversy and restore the fractured trust.
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