Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
PHOTOS Children sample life of monk ahead of Buddha's Birthday
A boy rolls backward during the commencement ceremony for the “Bodhi Tree Sapling School” in the Jogyesa Temple in downtown Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Lee Gyu-lee
“Bodhi Tree Sapling School” is a temple stay that gives children a chance to live the life of a monk at Jogyesa Temple, downtown Seoul. It began on April 22. The purpose of the program is to help participants learn the values of the religion at a young age. It will last until Buddha's Birthday on May 12.
A boy closes his eyes and makes a face while a Buddhist monk shaves his hair in an enactment of a traditional ceremony to become a monk. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
A boy with a look of embarrassment on his face covers his shaved head with his hands. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
One of the boy monks is presented with prayer beads. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
A boy monk prays. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
The boy monks stand with hands together in “Hapjang” prayer. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul