Seoljeong Forced Out as Jogye Order Faces Scandal Storm
What Went Down?
No‑confidence vote: 56‑14 central committee members declared their disapproval of President Seoljeong, the latest in a historic 12‑century tradition.
Major accusations:
Fake credentials: claims he graduated from Seoul National University, a claim the university denies.
Hidden heir: alleged fathering of a daughter while sworn to celibacy.
Secret wealth: hefty real‑estate portfolio that clashes with vows of poverty.
Why It All Matters
Jogye Order’s size:
3,000+ temples, 13,000 monks, 7 million followers—most of Korea’s Buddhists.
Influence: Religion still a social powerhouse in South Korea.
Ongoing controversies: Long‑standing corruption and factional fights.
Inside the Chaos
Protests: Ordinary members and civic groups marched demanding Seoljeong’s resignation.
Hunger strike: A reform‑minded monk went on a 41‑day fast outside Jogyesa temple and is now hospitalized.
Spiritual leaders: Patriarch Jinje and activist Cho Jae‑hyun both called for Seoljeong’s removal.
Council of Elders: Expected to ratify the ouster next week.
Big Players & Their Moves
Seoljeong (76): Took office in Nov. 2017, denies wrongdoing, accuses the “old guard” of sabotaging his reforms.
Jaseung: Former president who brought Seoljeong in; still wields influence, his own term marred by corruption rumors.
Reformists’ Rally: Planned mass monk gathering at Jogyesa next week to push for sweeping changes.
“We call for the resignation of all the old guard—Seoljeong and the central committee—so we can usher in reform and democracy,” Kim Young‑Kuk, head of the Buddhism Reform Movement, told AFP.“It’s like a lizard cutting its own tail to escape a predator,” the group added, labeling Jaseung’s faction as protective of their own interests.
Past Conflicts
1994: Violent clashes over executive posts at Joygesa Temple.
Reform constitution: Adopted after the skirmish, but momentum faded.
Public Opinion Snapshot
22 % of South Koreans identify as Buddhist (Korea Gallup, 2014).
Christianity 21 % and Catholicism 7 %.
In sum, the Jogye Order’s leadership is under intense scrutiny, with calls for deep-rooted reform echoing through its vast community.*
