Chaos at Haeinsa Temple... Physical Clash During Chief Monk Election Meeting

Conflict Erupts at Next Chief Monk Election
Temple Staff Member Suffers Serious Eye Injury
Police Plan to File Charges Against Haeinsa Officials

Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, has recently been embroiled in various scandals, causing significant internal turmoil. In particular, Haeinsa has been experiencing confusion due to the sudden resignation of the head monk and the Jogye Order's rejection of the appointment, and during the interim meeting to select the next head monk, internal conflicts escalated, resulting in physical clashes.

According to the police, around 1 p.m. on the 16th, about 50 monks confronted each other on the entrance road to Gwaneumjeon Hall at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon. During this incident, one Haeinsa official collapsed and was transported to the hospital.

Outdoor Sculpture 'Sound of Buddha' by Artist An Seong-geum [Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The clash occurred between the 'Emergency Countermeasures Committee for the Normalization of Haeinsa Temple,' which was trying to enter the meeting room ahead of the interim meeting to review candidates for the next head monk of Haeinchongnim, and the Haeinsa monks and temple staff who were trying to block them.

During this process, a temple staff member working at the Haeinsa temple office sustained a severe injury to the eye area and was urgently transported to the hospital. The police plan to soon identify and book the Haeinsa official responsible for the injury based on video footage and other evidence.

At the interim meeting that day, 28 out of 33 total members, including the head monk of Haeinchongnim, Monk Wongak, attended, exceeding the quorum of 17 members required for a decision. The resignation letter of the former head monk, Monk Hyeoneung, was reportedly submitted to the General Affairs Office on the 13th.

Previously, Haeinsa Temple's head monk, the Venerable Wongak Daejongsa, recommended Monk Wonta as the successor to the former head monk Monk Hyeoneung following his resignation, but the submission was rejected by the General Affairs Office due to incomplete documentation.