Self-immolated Buddhist monk leaves note decrying Park Geun-hye’s “greed”

Posted on : 2017-01-09 17:28 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
64-year-old Ven. Jeongwon in critical condition after lighting himself on fire at candlelight demonstration in central Seoul
 a Buddhist monk who self-immolated on Jan. 7
a Buddhist monk who self-immolated on Jan. 7

A Buddhist monk who set fire to himself at Yeolin Madang Square in central Seoul on Jan. 7 left notes expressing concern about current events and criticizing a number of officials for their “greed.”

At around 10:30 pm on Jan. 7, the 64-year-old Ven. Jeongwon (born Seo Yong-won) attempted suicide by self-immolation at the park in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun area opposite Gyeongbok Palace. An eleventh candlelight demonstration had been held there earlier that evening.

A note by Ven. Jeongwon
A note by Ven. Jeongwon

Jeongwon’s notes, copies of which was provided to the Hankyoreh on Jan. 8 by Emergency Citizen Action for the Park Geun-hye Administration’s Resignation joint spokesperson Ahn Jin-geol, suggested the monk had been considering self-immolation for some time.

“It was on Nov. 13 that I posted a message to Facebook saying I would make a burnt offering [to the Buddha],” he wrote in an entry on Nov. 24, 2016. “Since then, I’ve been considering the timing.”

“Park Geun-hye continues to hold out without stepping down,” he wrote elsewhere. “We need to use the power of the people to force Park Geun-hye to step down and purge the collaborationist sellout US-worshippers so we can reclaim sovereignty and fix this land’s tainted spirit.”

 in which he encourages participants in candlelight rallies against the Park Geun-hye administration. (provided by Ahn Jin-geol)
in which he encourages participants in candlelight rallies against the Park Geun-hye administration. (provided by Ahn Jin-geol)

A note on Nov. 30 voiced his criticisms of Park and others whom he saw as attempting to dodge responsibility for their role in the government interference scandal. Quoting a dialogue between the Buddha and Ananda, Jeongwon wrote, “Korea is burning as a result of the greed of a handful of people. Yet they are trying to ensure they alone escape the flames.”

Jeongwon also hinted at his plans to sacrifice himself in a poem titled “The People,” in which he wrote, “[My] love for you is still not complete. . . . I will burn intensely, so intensely. Like an active volcano. And thus it will be complete.”

 a Buddhist monk who self-immolated on Jan. 7
a Buddhist monk who self-immolated on Jan. 7

In another note, he wrote, “It’s too bad a burnt offering can’t donate organs.”

The entries also show that after Jeongwon announced his plans for self-immolation last month, acquaintances attempted to stop him, prompting to tell them he was abandoning his plans but asking them to “understand that this is what I am feeling.” Ultimately, he went ahead with the self-immolation, with acquaintances notified Emergency Citizen Action of in order to “share [Jeongwon‘s] intentions accurately.”

Just before setting himself on fire, Jeongwon wrote another Facebook message titled “May the candles be victorious.” He also left a poem a few days earlier on Jan. 6 about the popular anger expressed by the candlelight demonstrations.

“When they were born on Korean soil / They didn’t know it would be this way / . . . / In their anger, the people / can no longer live this way. / Let us turn over that soil,” the poem read.

Jeongwon left another message at the scene of his self-immolation.

“May my death not be in vain,” he wrote. “My death must mean victory for the people, not gains for any one group. I am returning to the elements of the universe; do not leave any trace behind.”

The note also urged President Park to “immediately stop her rebellious crimes and selling out her own countries with the South Korea-Japan agreement [on the comfort women issue] and step down.”

A note by Ven. Jeongwon
A note by Ven. Jeongwon

Shortly after setting himself on fire, Jeongwon was sent to Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul’s Jongno district, where he has been undergoing treatment for his burns. He remains in critical condition. Family members have reportedly expressed that no measures be taken to prolong his life in respect of his wishes.

“In accordance with what the patient’s guardians have expressed, we have decided not to transfer him to a hospital for burn treatment or take measures to prolong his life,” the hospital said.

In a Jan. 8, Emergency Citizen Action said it “sincerely hopes for his recovery and the achievement of the ‘day of happiness for all the people’ that he desired.”

“Having spent days of tears and sufferings next to people who lost their lives under the Park Geun-hye administration, we do not want to lose any more beautiful souls,” the group added.

By Heo Seung staff reporter and Cho Yeon-hyun, religion correspondent

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

button that move to original korean article (클릭시 원문으로 이동하는 버튼)

Related stories

Most viewed articles