Venerable Myeongjin to receive religious-civic funeral; memorial altar set up at Bongeunsa

Venerable Myeongjin, the former head monk of Bongeunsa Temple who died Saturday in Seogwipo, Jeju, will receive a religious and civic funeral.

Associates of the late monk said Sunday that his remains, currently held at Seogwipo Medical Center, will be transported to Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, once administrative procedures including family consent are completed.

A memorial altar will be set up at Bongeunsa, where Myeongjin served as head monk from 2006 to 2010. The funeral ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.

A funeral committee is to be formed, centered on the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Beopjusa Temple — the head temple where Myeongjin was ordained — and civic organizations with ties to the monk. The committee will finalize the funeral schedule and procedures.

Myeongjin was found floating in the sea near Haye Port in Haye-dong, Seogwipo, at 9:38 a.m. Saturday and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was wearing a mask, snorkel, diving suit and fins at the time of his rescue.