Reformist Buddhist monk Ven. Myeongjin passes away in Jeju

Ven. Myeongjin, a respected Buddhist monk recognized for his advocacy for social justice and his calls for reform within the Buddhist community and political sphere, passed away on August 22 in Seogwipo, Jeju. He was 76 years old and had been a monk for 52 years.

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We share the grief of the entire nation over the loss of a great elder of Korean Buddhism.

Myeongjin's body was discovered floating in the sea near Haye Port on Jeju Island. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. According to maritime police, he was wearing freediving equipment at the time of his discovery, and the absence of external injuries suggests a possible accident during freediving. Authorities have permitted the transfer of his body without an autopsy. A close associate noted that Myeongjin had spoken of diving to 20 meters without oxygen, fulfilling a long-held aspiration.

News of Myeongjin's passing has prompted widespread condolences from Buddhist communities, political figures, and civic organizations. President Lee Jae-myung expressed his sorrow, stating, "We share the grief of the entire nation over the loss of a great elder of Korean Buddhism." He recalled Myeongjin's past appeals for a society where laborers could live equally amidst wealth disparity and for the president to pave the way for peace between the Koreas. The Baek Ki-wan Nonamegi Foundation, for which Myeongjin served as a co-chair, highlighted his long-standing commitment to protecting the vulnerable and addressing issues faced by non-regular workers.

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He spoke of diving 20 meters in the sea without oxygen, and he ultimately passed away in the sea.

Born in Dangjin in 1950, Myeongjin's spiritual journey included a stint in the Vietnam War before he formally became a monk. He became involved in the democracy movement in the 1980s after witnessing a video of the Gwangju Uprising. He was a leading figure in calls for reform within the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in the 1990s and served in various leadership positions. As the head monk of Bongeunsa Temple from 2006 to 2010, he implemented transparent financial practices and dedicated himself to making the temple a center for spiritual practice. He was known for his fearless criticism of sensitive issues, including his support for victims of the 2009 Yongsan tragedy and his allegations of collusion between the Jogye Order leadership and the Lee Myung-bak administration, which led to his being subjected to illegal surveillance by the National Intelligence Service. Despite being stripped of his monastic status in 2017, a court later ruled the disciplinary action invalid, and his monastic rights were restored.

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He spoke to me about a world where laborers suffering from the gap between rich and poor could live equally, and asked the president to open the way for peace between the North and South.