Nepal Aircraft Crash... Wonbulgyo Local Leader Won Seongcheon Passes Away

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] In the aftermath of a plane crash in Nepal resulting in 72 casualties, it has been reported that the deceased include local Nepalese Won Buddhist minister Won Seongcheon (real name Arun Paudel, 47) and his daughter Won Eunwoo (Prashidi Paudel, 10).

According to Won Buddhism, the two were on a Yeti Airlines ATR72 passenger plane heading to Pokhara at 10:50 a.m. local time on the 15th when it crashed near the airport in the Kaski district, resulting in their deaths.

Minister Won Seongcheon majored in sociology at Tribhuvan University in Nepal and worked as a police officer before entering the path of a Won Buddhist clergy member under the guidance of his younger brother, Minister Won Seongje, who was studying in Korea. He enrolled in the Won Buddhism Department at Wonkwang University in 2004, completed a master's program at the same graduate school, and returned to Nepal in 2009 as a certified minister. In April 2013, he established the three-story 'Samdong Comprehensive School' in the Manigram area of Lumbini, Nepal, where he taught Korean, English, meditation, IT education, and traditional culture to 10 classes across five elementary grades. He also led efforts to improve local living conditions by constructing 302 wells.

The deceased was traveling for additional corporate establishment work as the chairman of the 'Vishow Ekata Academy,' the legal entity of Samdong Comprehensive School, when the accident occurred. His family includes his wife Won Sinwon (Rita Sapaudel) and their young second daughter.

The domestic funeral ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on the 17th at the Won Buddhism Central Headquarters in Iksan, Jeonbuk. The body will be cremated locally according to local customs and then laid to rest naturally.

Won Buddhism stated, "Despite the sudden loss of Minister Won Seongcheon, who dedicated his life to the order, we will not forget his wishes for the propagation of Won Buddhism in Nepal and will continue to carry on his legacy."