Haeinsa Temple Requests Swift Appointment of Successor Head Monk to the HoBeopBu
WonTa Monk Recommended as Successor
HoBeopBu Insists Investigation Must Be Completed First
Haeinsa Emergency Committee Demands Abbot's Resignation
[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, a thousand-year-old temple and the custodian of the national treasure Palman Daejanggyeong, expressed regret over a series of recent unfortunate incidents and requested the swift appointment of a successor head monk.
On the 26th, Haeinsa stated in a press release, "Bangjang Monk (Won-gak Monk) conveyed deep apologies and regrets for causing concern to the Chief Executive Monk and the Jogye Order due to the recent issues at Haein Chongnim."
Previously, Haeinsa was embroiled in controversy over allegations of sexual misconduct involving the current head monk, Hyun-eung Monk, and faced criticism due to a physical altercation among monks during the successor selection process. On the 23rd, there was an internal revelation that monks at Haeinsa had engaged in gambling Yutnori worth about 10 million won in the Seonwon (meditation hall).
Haeinsa demanded the prompt appointment of a successor to Hyun-eung Monk, who submitted his resignation on the 13th. They argued that since Hyun-eung Monk himself submitted the resignation and the decision-making body, the Imhoe, decided on the 16th to expel him from the temple (Sanmun Chulsong, the expulsion of a monk who committed a serious crime), his status had already been resolved. Earlier, on the 17th, Haeinsa recommended Wonta Monk as the successor head monk.
However, the Jogye Order’s General Affairs Office has withheld acceptance of the resignation, citing an ongoing investigation by the Discipline Department. They maintain that appointment can only proceed after follow-up actions based on the investigation results.
In response, Haeinsa is pressuring the Discipline Department through a legal advisory opinion stating that Hyun-eung Monk’s resignation takes effect immediately upon reaching the Jogye Order’s Chief Executive Monk. They claim that under civil law, the appointment of the head monk is a delegation, and once the resignation intention reaches the appointing authority, the delegation relationship ends immediately. Furthermore, they argue, “There is no provision in either the Jogye Order’s constitution or laws that states if there are disciplinary reasons against a resigned head monk, the appointment of a successor must be made after disciplining the resigned head monk.”
However, the appointment of Wonta Monk, recommended by Haeinsa, does not seem smooth. Considered part of Hyun-eung Monk’s faction, the “Emergency Committee for the Normalization of Haeinsa” (Emergency Committee) opposes the appointment. When the review meeting for Wonta Monk’s successor recommendation was held, members of the Emergency Committee entered the meeting room, leading to clashes and resulting in one of Haeinsa’s 40th-generation temple officials being injured.
The Emergency Committee is requesting that the highest elder, Bangjang Monk Won-gak, take responsibility and step down in connection with a series of incidents involving senior monks, including sexual misconduct, overseas golf trips, and gambling Yutnori.
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