Shocking Update on Miss Korea Who Became a Monk... "Tragedy Came After Marriage"

Cha Woo-rim, 1994 Miss Korea Contestant... Classmates with Sung Hyun-ah and Han Sung-joo
"Bankrupt during IMF... Husband passed away in a traffic accident"

On the 13th, MBN's 'Exclusive World' revealed the story of Cha Woo-rim, a former Miss Korea. Photo by MBN, screenshot from 'Exclusive World' broadcast.

[Asia Economy Online Issue Team] Miss Korea alumna Cha Woo-rim confessed the reason she became a Buddhist nun.

On the 13th, MBN's 'Exclusive World' aired the story of Cha Woo-rim, a Miss Korea alumna turned Buddhist nun.

Cha Woo-rim was the Miss Korea Incheon representative in 1994, competing alongside Sung Hyun-ah and Han Sung-joo. Afterwards, she worked as a model and led a glamorous life.

Now, she lives in a narrow rock cave of about three pyeong (approximately 9.9 square meters) and has been practicing asceticism for six months. Cha Woo-rim said, "There are many inconveniences in living this way, but I have to endure them," adding, "I have many karmic debts and have committed many sins. There are too many things buried in my heart."

She then recalled her glamorous days as Miss Korea. Cha Woo-rim said, "I wore high heels for the first time in my life. I am 178 cm tall. It felt like I was riding on the shoes," and continued, "I always lived a glamorous life and even had a glamorous wedding. The Chief Presidential Secretary officiated the ceremony. Many friends envied me."

However, hardship came to Cha Woo-rim during the IMF crisis. She revealed, "I went bankrupt during the IMF. I lost my house and car," and added, "My husband suddenly passed away in a traffic accident."

She also shed tears while writing a letter to her son who is serving in the military. She confessed, "Even now, when I think of my child, a corner of my heart feels heavy. I feel so sorry and miss him so much."

Regarding the reason she became a Buddhist nun, Cha Woo-rim said, "I struggled to support my son through university. I thought I should live more peacefully now, but my child suddenly got sick, and more difficult things happened, so I had to take a harder path," adding, "I made that choice for my child, but from his perspective, he might think his mother abandoned him. I sincerely hope he doesn't think that way," as she shed tears once again.