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Poker-playing Buddhist monks scandalise South Korea Poker-playing Buddhist monks scandalise South Korea
(about 1 hour later)
Six leaders from South Korea's largest Buddhist order have quit after secret video footage showed supposedly serene monks playing high-stakes poker, drinking and smoking. Six leaders from South Korea's largest Buddhist order have quit after secret video footage showed monks playing high-stakes poker, drinking and smoking.
The scandal broke just days before Koreans observe a national holiday to celebrate the birth of Buddha, the holiest day of the religion's calendar.The scandal broke just days before Koreans observe a national holiday to celebrate the birth of Buddha, the holiest day of the religion's calendar.
The head of the Jogye order, which has 10 million followers – about a fifth of the population – made a public apology on Friday, vowing "self-repentance".The head of the Jogye order, which has 10 million followers – about a fifth of the population – made a public apology on Friday, vowing "self-repentance".
South Korean TV networks aired shots of monks playing poker, smoking and drinking, after gathering at a luxury lakeside hotel in late April for a fellow monk's memorial service. South Korean TV networks aired shots of monks playing poker, smoking and drinking, after gathering at a luxury lakeside hotel in late April for a fellow monk's memorial service.
"The stakes for 13 hours of gambling were more than 1bn won [£543,000]," Seongho, a senior monk, told Reuters on Friday. He said he had reported the incident to prosecutors."The stakes for 13 hours of gambling were more than 1bn won [£543,000]," Seongho, a senior monk, told Reuters on Friday. He said he had reported the incident to prosecutors.
Gambling is illegal in South Korea outside of licensed casinos and horse racing tracks and is frowned upon by religious leaders.Gambling is illegal in South Korea outside of licensed casinos and horse racing tracks and is frowned upon by religious leaders.
"Buddhist rules say don't steal. Look at what they did, they abused money from Buddhists for gambling," Seongho said."Buddhist rules say don't steal. Look at what they did, they abused money from Buddhists for gambling," Seongho said.
The behaviour of the supposedly abstemious monks has led to Korean media speculation of a power split within the order.The behaviour of the supposedly abstemious monks has led to Korean media speculation of a power split within the order.
Seongho said he had obtained a computer memory stick that contains a video clip from a camera hidden in the hotel. He would not say whom his source was because of recent threats made against him. The wayward monks appear to have upset many in Korea. Seongho said he had obtained a computer memory stick that contains a video clip from a camera hidden in the hotel. He would not say whom his source was because of recent threats made against him. The filmed monks appear to have upset many in Korea.
"A group of monks who gamble, drink and smoke in a hotel room is tainted in the eyes of all people in the nation," civic group Buddhist Solidarity for Reform sa d in a statement. "A group of monks who gamble, drink and smoke in a hotel room is tainted in the eyes of all people in the nation," the civic group Buddhist Solidarity for Reform said in a statement.
The scandal also excited attention on Twitter, with some posts calling for reforms within the sect. The scandal also attracted attention on Twitter, with some posts calling for reforms within the sect.