A board enthusiast of 30 years, Venerable Hosan, chief abbot of Bongseonsa
The Jogye Order holds the Dalma Open snowboard competition every year
As Korean snowboarders continue their 'miracle run' by winning medals one after another at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, a monk who has quietly supported snow sports is drawing attention once again. He is Venerable Hosan (61), often called the 'Godfather of Snowboarding'.
Venerable Hosan is the founder of the Dalma Cup Snowboard Competition, which has discovered and nurtured promising snowboarders in Korea, and he is also an enthusiast who has been riding a board for nearly 30 years.
Hosan, abbot of Bongseonsa in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, is posing with a board after an interview on the 12th. Yonhap News
Venerable Hosan, abbot of Bongseonsa, the head temple of the 25th diocese of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, said in an interview with a media outlet on the 12th, "All of our athletes have really gone through a lot," unable to hide his joy over the national team’s strong performance.
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism has also been sponsoring the Dalma Open, the largest snowboard competition in Korea founded by Venerable Hosan, for more than 20 years. It is said that he launched the event out of regret that, due to the lack of suitable competitions in Korea, athletes had few opportunities to check their training results and verify their skills. In its early days, the competition was run with support from bodies such as the Missionary Headquarters of the Jogye Order, and in 2015 it was elevated to an event hosted directly by the Jogye Order.
Hosan, head priest of Bongseonsa in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, is posing with a board after an interview on the 12th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
Lee Sangho (31), the 'Cabbage Boy' who won Korea’s first-ever snow event medal (a silver medal) at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, as well as Milan Olympic medalists Kim Sangkyum and Yoo Seungeun, are all 'Dalma kids' who honed their skills through the Dalma Open. Finalist Lee Chaewoon is also a former Dalma Open champion.
The support from Venerable Hosan and the Buddhist community has created a virtuous cycle. Many athletes who once received support now return as volunteers at the competition or contribute funds to help foster their juniors.
Perhaps due to the influence of this so-called 'sports propagation of Buddhism', a considerable number of snowboarders are Buddhists. In particular, Lee Sangho serves as president of the Hanmam Buddhist Association and plays a leading role in supporting promising young athletes.
National team members such as Kim Sangkyum and Lee Sangho are also known to take part in temple stays every year, where they meditate or perform 108 prostrations to calm and discipline their minds.
Venerable Hosan expressed regret over the reality that athletes must go abroad for technical training, stressing that Korea also needs dedicated facilities and more systematic support.
He added that this year’s Dalma Cup will be organized as a gathering where Olympic athletes and youth athletes can come together, turning it into a kind of 'post-Olympic after-party' festival.
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