Venerable Myungjin Files 'Expulsion Invalidity' Lawsuit Against Jogye Order... "Retaliatory Discipline Unfair"

"Retaliatory Disciplinary Action Against Long-Term Critical Reformers"... Claim for 500 Million Won in Compensation

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Venerable Myeongjin, who was stripped of his monk status after criticizing the leadership of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism during the tenure of Chief Abbot Jaseung, filed a lawsuit on the 9th demanding the cancellation of his disciplinary action.

On the afternoon of the 9th, Venerable Myeongjin, who was stripped of his monk status in April 2017 after criticizing the leadership of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, held a press conference at a cafe in Jung-gu, Seoul, to explain the lawsuit demanding the cancellation of the disciplinary action before filing it. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Before filing the lawsuit, at a press conference held at a cafe in Seoul on the same day, Venerable Myeongjin claimed that his expulsion in 2017 was invalid and filed a lawsuit against the Jogye Order. He filed a 'confirmation of invalidity of disciplinary action, etc.' lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court through electronic litigation, demanding 500 million KRW in damages.

In December 2016, Venerable Myeongjin appeared on the TBS program "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" and strongly criticized then-Chief Abbot Jaseung, claiming that the costs for temple stays and cultural heritage management had turned into the Chief Abbot’s slush fund. At that time, the Jogye Order’s disciplinary committee interpreted Venerable Myeongjin’s criticism as "groundless defamation" and proposed expulsion. When Venerable Myeongjin did not comply with the request to attend the hearing, the initial disciplinary committee issued a final expulsion order on April 5, 2017.

Venerable Myeongjin argues that the expulsion is procedurally invalid because there was no hearing on whether the grounds for the disciplinary action were factual. While stating that he considered being disciplined by the Chief Abbot Jaseung’s administration "an honor," he explained that he filed the lawsuit as "one way to express the harm caused by Jaseung and his associates."