(3rd LD) Jogye Order says ex-leader Ven. Jaseung self-immolated

▲ Ven. Jaseung, a former head of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, is seen in this undated file photo. (Yonhap)

▲ Firefighters extinguish a fire at a dormitory for Buddhist monks inside Chiljang Temple in Anseong, 64 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 29, 2023, in this photo provided by the vernacular daily Gyeonggi Ilbo. The blaze, which erupted at 6:50 p.m. the same day, killed Ven. Jaseung, a former head of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, according to a senior official at Bongeun Temple in southern Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(3rd LD) Buddhist monk-death

(3rd LD) Jogye Order says ex-leader Ven. Jaseung self-immolated

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Jogye Order's press briefing)

SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- Ven. Jaseung, a former leader of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, immolated himself, the order said Thursday, after he was found dead in a temple fire a day earlier.

"Ven. Jaseung left a warning to all Buddhists with his self-immolation, praying for the stability of the religious group and the salvation of the world through the dissemination of the Dharma," Ven. Wubong, the spokesman for the Jogye Order, said in a press briefing.

Self-immolation is a Buddhist practice of burning oneself alive as an offering to Buddha.

He announced the former head passed away at age 69 in a fire that erupted at Chiljang Temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, at 6:50 p.m. Wednesday.

His body was found at a dormitory for monks in the temple, where he was staying alone, after firefighters extinguished the fire there in about three hours.

The police discovered notes apparently written for the temple's chief priest in Jaseung's car parked nearby. They read: "I'm sorry for causing a lot of troubles by ending my life here. ... This building will be restored by my disciples, and I'm both sorry and grateful."

The police say they will analyze all closed-circuit TV footage inside the temple to determine the exact cause of the fire.

The Jogye Order said it will hold a five-day funeral led by its current leader Ven. Jinwoo at Jogye Temple situated in downtown Seoul. A funeral ceremony will take place Sunday morning.

Born in 1954, Ven. Jaseung became a Buddhist monk at age 19 and served as the president of the Jogye Order from 2009 to 2017.

He assumed the chairmanship at the Korean Council of Religious Leaders from 2011-2017 and also served as co-chairman at the Korean Conference of Religion and Peace from 2014-2017.

His death shocked the Buddhist sect, especially as he had shown a strong desire to further spread the religion until recently.

"As a former president of the Jogye Order, Ven. Jaseung had been concerned about the status and role of Buddhism. He had a strong will to solve the problems facing the order, such as the declining population," Ven. Jugyeong, head of the order's legislative organization, told Yonhap News Agency. He appeared visibly disconcerted by the news of his death.

Park Jeong-gyu, a public relations official of the order's labor union, also did not hide his shock, saying the death is "too unexpected."

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