'Tazza' Monk Who Gambled Large Sums Abroad... Exposed After Devotee's Report

Gambling Dozens of Times at Overseas Casinos Including Macau
Organizing Games Worth Around 50 Million Won Even in Detention Centers

A monk who engaged in illegal gambling overseas has been brought to trial.

The Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 29th that "the head monk of Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungbuk, has been indicted without detention on charges of gambling and aiding gambling overseas."

The head monk is accused of repeatedly gambling on slot machines and other games at overseas casinos such as those in Macau from May 2015 to September 2019. The exact amount involved has not been disclosed.

He is also accused of aiding other monks who gambled at the temple in 2018. The prosecution investigated a total of 11 cases related to aiding gambling, but 10 were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Entrance of Beopjusa Temple in Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungbuk
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Previously, the prosecution had summarily indicted seven monks from Beopjusa Temple with fines for gambling about ten times at the temple. This case surfaced in 2020 when a believer filed a complaint with the Cheongju District Prosecutors' Office.

The monks, affiliated with Beopjusa Temple and other regional temples, are accused of participating in gambling in groups of three to four at Beopjusa Temple and nearby hotels.

In early March 2018, they played 'Seven (poker) cards' in the multipurpose room of Beopjusa Temple, betting around 20 million won over 12 hours. On March 23 of the same year, they gambled for two days at a hotel in Songnisan-myeon, Boeun-gun, again betting money on Seven cards. The stakes exchanged then also reached 20 million won. From October 18 to 20 of the same year, they held another gambling session with stakes worth about 15 million won.

Among them, six have requested formal trials and are currently undergoing court proceedings. One admitted to the charges and received a confirmed fine of 3 million won, but the remaining six appealed and requested formal trials.

The prosecution had once suspended the indictment against the head monk until international judicial cooperation was established, but recently resumed the investigation after securing related materials.