(AsiaGameHub) – By: Adrian Kingsley
A top South Korean Buddhist monk’s gambling spree has dealt a blow to public trust in religious institutions. The former abbot of Beopjusa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was found guilty of habitual overseas gambling.
The Cheongju District Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. He must do 80 hours of community service. Prosecutors proved he made 47 trips to Macao and other places between May 2015 and September 2019. He played baccarat and slots—both illegal for South Koreans abroad. He denied baccarat but admitted slots.
Beopjusa Temple dates to 553 CE. It has a 33-meter bronze Buddha and the country’s only five-story wooden pagoda. The court noted his prior gambling record but suspended the sentence due to partial confession. Last year, Thailand’s Wat Rai Khing Temple head was disrobed for embezzling $9M to gamble online.
Religious institutions across Asia must strengthen internal checks to rebuild public trust.
Author bio: Adrian Kingsley, an internationally renowned scholar specializing in public administration and social policy research.