Temple Visit Program Fully Booked Within 4 Hours
So-Called 'Kkotseunim' Beomjeong Seunim to Host Tea Talk
The temple exploration program hosted by Hwaeomsa Temple in Jirisan was fully booked within four hours of opening registration. This was thanks to Beomjeong Seunim, popularly known as the 'Kkotsunim' (Flower Monk) in online communities.
Jirisan Daehwaeomsa, the main temple of the 19th district of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, began accepting applications for the nighttime temple exploration program called Hwayamong (華夜夢) on a first-come, first-served basis from the morning of the same day and closed registration at 3 p.m.
Hwayamong is a program consisting of tea conversation with a monk, prayer vows, and guided tours of the Daeungjeon Hall, Gakhwangjeon Hall, and the Four-Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda. The tea conversation program led by Beomjeong Seunim, known as the 'Kkotsunim,' attracted much attention.
Beomjeong Seunim is called 'Kkotsunim' because he believes "practitioners are flowers and should become flowers." He stated, "I am a flower-like practitioner who lets someone, without any promise, smell the fragrance I hold. Therefore, I want to become a flower," and he designated his Instagram account as Kkotsunim.
His flower-like appearance is also a reason for the nickname. Hong Seokcheon, a broadcaster known as a 'handsome man judge,' follows the monk’s Instagram. With his handsome looks gaining fame, he has 20,000 followers. He is popular among young people and is also called the 'MZ Seunim' (MZ Monk).
Hwaeomsa, which has the 'MZ Seunim,' is showing unique moves to capture the attention of the MZ generation. It has become a hot place for the MZ generation by organizing events such as the red plum blossom photo contest, a yoga competition commemorating World Yoga Day, and a mosquito net movie music concert. On the 2nd, it also announced the launch of the world's first 'temple vegan burger.' It has ambitions to expand into the U.S. market in New York and Southeast Asia in the first half of next year.
Beomjeong Seunim will meet 22 applicants on the 22nd. The program starts with an icebreaker tasting of wild green tea from Jirisan, followed by ▲writing prayer vows ▲asking Beomjeong Seunim questions ▲guided tours and explanations of Daeungjeon and Gakhwangjeon Halls ▲explanation of the meaning of the Four-Lion Three-Story Stone Pagoda ▲prayer vows and monk’s blessings ▲moving to Gakhwangjeon and seeing off, running from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for two hours.
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