Former Bongeunsa Abbot Ven. Myungjin Dies in Cardiac Arrest After Jeju Freediving Accident

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Venerable Myungjin — the former abbot of Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul and a prominent reform voice within South Korea’s Jogye Order — was found in cardiac arrest while freediving off Jeju Island and pronounced dead shortly after emergency treatment. He was 76 and had spent 52 years as a monk.

According to the Jogye Order, police, and fire authorities, Myungjin was discovered floating in the water near Harye Port in Haye-dong, Seogwipo, at about 9:38 a.m. Rescuers transported him to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead at 10:28 a.m. His remains were taken to Seogwipo Medical Center.

Editor’s note: This article draws on Yonhap News Agency, the Korea JoongAng Daily, The Korea Herald, Seoul Economic Daily, and Aju Press reporting, August 22–24, 2026. Investigation details and funeral arrangements may be updated.

What happened

The Jeju Coast Guard said Myungjin appeared to have suffered an accident while practicing freediving (skin diving without scuba tanks), based on the equipment he was wearing when he was rescued. Authorities are investigating the exact circumstances.

Time / detail	Information
Date	August 22, 2026
Location	Waters near Harye Port, Seogwipo, Jeju
Discovery	~9:38 a.m. — floating in the water
Condition at rescue	Cardiac arrest
Pronounced dead	~10:28 a.m. at hospital
Activity	Suspected freediving accident

Friends told Korean media that Myungjin had practiced freediving regularly and was engaged in the activity on the morning of his death. He had been staying at Namseonsa Temple on Jeju ahead of the incident.

Police reported no external injuries and no signs of foul play. Authorities have decided not to conduct an autopsy, according to The Korea Herald.

Who was Ven. Myungjin?

Born in 1950 in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, Myungjin entered the Buddhist priesthood in 1969 at Baengnyeonam in Haeinsa and received novice ordination from Master Tanseong in 1974.

He became one of the most recognizable reform-minded figures in modern Korean Buddhism:

Period / role	Detail
1994	Led an overhaul movement within the Jogye Order
1998–2002	Vice chairman of the Jogye Order Central Council
2006–2010	Abbot of Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, Seoul
Later career	Head of the National Community Promotion Headquarters; advocate for inter-Korean Buddhist exchanges

During his tenure at Bongeunsa, Myungjin pushed for transparency in temple finances and greater lay participation in temple governance. He publicly clashed with Jogye Order headquarters over Bongeunsa’s transition to a directly managed temple, criticizing both the order’s leadership and the Lee Myung-bak administration over alleged political pressure in the process.

He also spoke out against major national policies of the era, including the Four Major Rivers Project.

Expulsion and restoration

Myungjin was expelled from the Jogye Order in 2017 amid disputes over his criticism of the order’s leadership and alleged irregularities. After years of legal proceedings, his monastic status was formally restored in February 2026.

A government investigation later found that he had been subject to illegal surveillance by the National Intelligence Service during the Lee Myung-bak administration — a chapter that reinforced his image as an outspoken critic of political interference in religious affairs.

Before becoming a monk, Myungjin served as a soldier in the Vietnam War and later called on South Korea to apologize for its participation in the conflict.

Funeral arrangements

The Jogye Order, Beopjusa Temple (head temple of his diocese), and Namseonsa Temple in Jeju are coordinating memorial services.

As of reports on August 23–24, arrangements included:

• A funeral ceremony scheduled for August 25, 2026, at Bongeunsa Temple
• Cremation to follow at Beopjusa Temple

His remains were expected to be moved from Seogwipo to Bongeunsa, where he had served as abbot from 2006 through 2010.

Reaction and legacy

News of Myungjin’s death drew widespread coverage across Korean media on August 23–24, with obituary and tribute pieces recounting his decades of activism within the country’s largest Buddhist denomination.

Colleagues and observers noted his dual reputation: a monk who championed financial openness and democratic temple governance, and a persistent internal critic of the Jogye Order’s establishment — a role that cost him his standing for years before this year’s restoration.

For many Koreans, his sudden death at sea also raised practical questions about freediving safety, particularly for older practitioners. Cardiac events during breath-hold diving can be triggered by cold water, physical exertion, and underlying cardiovascular conditions — risks that safety advocates say deserve attention regardless of a diver’s experience level.

---

Discussion

Myungjin’s life bridged monastic tradition and public controversy — and his death ended a year that had already marked his return to full standing within the Jogye Order.

1. Should experienced freedivers face additional safety requirements as they age, or does personal judgment remain sufficient?

Myungjin had practiced freediving for years. Does that change how you think about risk management for breath-hold sports?

2. How should religious institutions balance internal reform with the authority of established leadership?

Myungjin’s career included both transparency campaigns at Bongeunsa and years of exile from the order he sought to change. What does his story suggest about the cost of institutional dissent?

Share your reflections on his legacy or your own experience with freediving safety.

---

This article is news and general health information, not personal medical advice. If you or someone you know experiences chest pain, difficulty breathing, or signs of cardiac distress during or after physical activity, seek emergency care immediately.