Anseong Chiljangsa Fire... Former Jogye Order Chief Administrator Ja Seung Passed Away

Venerable Jaseung, who served as the 33rd and 34th Chief Executive of the Jogye Order, has passed away. Venerable Jaseung died around 6:50 PM on the 29th due to an unexplained fire at Chiljangsa Temple located in Juksan-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province. A Jogye Order official told Yonhap News, "The Buddhist relics found at the Chiljangsa fire site belong to Venerable Jaseung," adding, "The order has officially confirmed that he passed away while alone."

The reasons why Venerable Jaseung was at Chiljangsa Temple and why he could not escape during the fire are still under investigation. Regarding whether the fire that occurred that day was an accident or caused by other reasons, a Jogye Order official told Yonhap News, "It is under investigation."

Monk Jaseung. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The first report by stated, "At the time of the fire, there were four monks inside the temple lodging, three of whom evacuated outside and fortunately escaped harm. Venerable Jaseung was serving as the honorary director of Amitabulgyo Nursing Hospital located in Juksan-myeon. Amitabulgyo Nursing Hospital is a free hospital caring for elderly Jogye Order monks and opened in May. Venerable Jaseung occasionally stayed at Chiljangsa Temple and was known to have visited Chiljangsa on that day as well," the report said.

At around 6:50 PM on the 29th, a fire broke out in the monks' quarters (residence for monks) within Chiljangsa Temple, located in Chiljang-ri, Juksan-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, resulting in the passing of Venerable Jaseung (69), former Chief Executive of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. [Image source=Yonhap News]

A police official told the media, "Since the body was completely burned, it is expected to take time to confirm the identity. We are investigating the detailed circumstances."

On the afternoon of the 29th, firefighters are extinguishing a fire at the monks' quarters (residence for monks) within Chiljangsa Temple in Chiljang-ri, Juksan-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]