According to an August 22 SBS news report, new allegations have surfaced that a well-known monk, commonly referred to as "Geonjin Beopsa," may have influenced a high-profile sexual assault case involving a celebrity, raising concerns about improper ties between religious figures and the prosecution.
According to testimony obtained by SBS, Mr. A, a close aide to Geonjin Beopsa, stated that he witnessed conversations between Geonjin Beopsa and Prosecutor B regarding the case. Mr. A testified to both the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office and the special counsel team that he directly overheard their discussions during his second encounter with Prosecutor B at the temple of Jeon Seong Bae, or referred to as the monk Geonjin Beopsa.
Mr. A claimed that during the exchange, Geonjin Beopsa asked, "What case are you working on these days?" to which Prosecutor B replied, "I’m handling a sexual assault case involving celebrity C." Mr. A further stated that although the prosecutor initially suggested that the celebrity should be detained, his stance changed when Geonjin Beopsa challenged him, asking, "What if I tell you not to indict him?" The prosecutor allegedly responded, "If the Master tells me not to, then I shouldn’t."
Mr. A also recalled Geonjin Beopsa asking him whether he had any acquaintances at the entertainment agency representing celebrity C.
Records confirm that in 2017, police referred celebrity C’s sexual assault case to the prosecution with a recommendation to indict. However, Prosecutor B decided not to indict in early 2018.
When questioned, Prosecutor B acknowledged visiting Geonjin Beopsa’s temple twice but denied any improper influence, stating, "I never discussed the case, and I handled it according to the rules."
Geonjin Beopsa’s side also denied involvement in the case. Celebrity C’s representatives likewise insisted there was no reason to seek favors, emphasizing that C was innocent and had no personal connection to the monk.
Geonjin Beopsa, whose real name is Jeon Seong Bae, is a monk affiliated with the Ilgwang Jogye Order. The Ilgwang Jogye Order is unrelated to the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and is widely considered a sect tied more to shamanistic practices than to traditional Buddhism.
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