By Na Jeong-ju
The Buddhist circle was thrown into turmoil Thursday following allegations that eight monks gambled all night at a hotel suite room last month. While playing poker, they allegedly drank and smoked in violation of the code of conduct for monks.
Among them were a couple of senior monks at the nation’s largest Buddhist order, Jogye. One monk is a member of Jogye’s Central Committee, dubbed the National Assembly of Korean Buddhism. Ven. Jaseung, head of the Jogye Order, vowed to deal sternly with the monks.
The incident surfaced after a monk filed a complaint with the prosecution to call for an investigation. The monk, Ven. Seongho, submitted a video clip showing them gambling, smoking and drinking as evidence. The footage was taken with a hidden camera, prosecutors said.
Regarding the case, six monks at Jogye Temple in central Seoul, headquarters of the Jogye Order, resigned from their posts Thursday following an emergency meeting. They said they didn’t gamble, but by quitting they were taking responsibility for “failing to serve Ven. Jaseung properly,” the temple said.
The revelation came as temples around the country are preparing for various events to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday, which falls on May 28 this year.
The prosecution said a probe into the incident has begun and the monks concerned will soon be summoned for questioning.
According to the complaint, the eight monks played poker at a hotel room in Jangseong, South Jeolla Province, for 13 hours from 8 p.m. on April 23. The charge for a night in the hotel is some 200,000 won ($175), which is relatively expensive considering a monk’s income.
They gambled with cash and checks amounting to tens of millions of won.
“They deserve stern punishment because they disgraced fellow monks and millions of believers by gambling, drinking and smoking, which by being monks they are not supposed to do,” Ven. Seongho said in the complaint.