Myungjin, a prominent Korean Buddhist monk who previously served as chief of Bongeunsa temple in Seoul, died on August 22 after an apparent freediving accident off Jeju. He was 76.
According to Korean reporting, Myungjin was found floating in the sea near Haye Port in Seogwipo at about 9:38 a.m. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead at about 10:28 a.m. The Coast Guard is investigating the exact cause of the accident. Equipment found with him led authorities to believe he had been practicing freediving, but the investigation has not yet established the precise sequence of events.
- Age
- 76
- Location
- Near Haye Port, Seogwipo
- Investigation
- Jeju Coast Guard
Myungjin was born in 1950 in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, and spent more than five decades in Buddhist life. He became widely known beyond religious circles through his leadership at Bongeunsa, one of Seoulโs most prominent temples, and through his public engagement on social and political issues.
President Lee Jae-myung was among those who publicly expressed condolences. Such tributes reflect Myungjinโs public stature, but the immediate facts of the death remain an accident investigation.
The next formal steps will come from the Coast Guardโs findings and funeral arrangements. Until the investigation is complete, reports about the cause should remain limited to what authorities have confirmed.