Monks' 'Group Assault' in the Heart of Gangnam... Police Launch Investigation

Monk and Union Member Accused of Smearing, Under Police Investigation for Assault

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] An incident occurred in front of Bongeunsa Temple in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, where Jogye Order monks assaulted a union member, prompting the police to initiate a pre-booking investigation.

On the 14th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul arrested Monk A, who assaulted a union member protesting former Chief Executive Officer Ja Seung's alleged interference in the Jogye Order election and smeared him with filth, as a suspect caught in the act, but later released him. Monk A requested medical treatment after claiming he was assaulted by Park Jeonggyu, the Planning and Public Relations Director of the Jogye Order union, and is currently at home.

A police official stated, "The monk who smeared filth was arrested and then released," adding, "We plan to summon both Mr. Park and the monk for further investigation."

According to the Jogye Order union, between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. that day, near the main gate of Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Mr. Park, who was conducting a solo protest demanding the cessation of Monk Ja Seung's interference in the Chief Executive Officer election and the resignation of officials from Bongeunsa Temple and Dongguk University, was assaulted by two monks.

Mr. Park suffered assault while protesting after his placard, prepared for the solo protest, was taken away by monks and devotees from Bongeunsa Temple. One of the monks involved in the assault reportedly poured a plastic bucket containing a contaminant presumed to be human excrement onto Mr. Park.

Meanwhile, it is reported that the police officers present at the scene during the assault were unable to intervene. Despite police officers' attempts to stop them, two monks forcibly subdued Mr. Park and continued the assault.

From the 9th to the 11th, Jinwoo Monk, who previously served as the head of the Jogye Order Education Institute, was the sole candidate registered for the next Chief Executive Officer election of the Jogye Order. Senior monks within the order issued a statement expressing support and agreeing to endorse Jinwoo Monk as the next Chief Executive Officer candidate.

According to the Jogye Order election law, which stipulates that a sole candidate is declared elected without a voting process, Jinwoo Monk has effectively secured the position of the next Chief Executive Officer. However, there have been claims both inside and outside the Jogye Order that former Chief Executive Officer Ja Seung, a behind-the-scenes power broker within the order, interfered in the overall election process, including the consensus endorsement of a single candidate.