Ven. New Jeans Draws Attention for Fusion of Electronic Music and Buddhist Verses

Courtesy of Yoon Seong-ho’s Instagram

Yoon Seong-ho, also known as Ven. New Jeans, a DJ-comedian in South Korea, is gaining recognition both domestically and internationally with support from the country's largest Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order.

Yoon recently closed the three-day Lotus Lantern Festival with an electronic dance music performance incorporating Buddhist verses. The festival, held in front of Jogyesa, the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, marked the second time Yoon has concluded the annual event.

His popularity extends beyond South Korea, with upcoming performances scheduled in Hong Kong on May 17 and Taiwan on July 13, following a successful debut overseas in Taiwan on April 27.
 

▲ South Korean comedian Yoon Seong-ho dressed as a Buddhist monk deejays at a dance club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 3 / Courtesy of Yoon Seong-ho’s InstagramThe Jogye Order, aiming to modernize its image and appeal to younger demographics, has expressed appreciation for Yoon's contributions in spreading awareness of Buddhism among the youth.

During a meeting in late April, Jogye Order President Ven. Jinwoo presented Yoon with prayer beads and a headset, underscoring his support for efforts to present Buddhism to a wider audience.

However, outside South Korea, Yoon's performances in a monk's robe have elicited mixed reactions. Malaysian lawmaker Wee Ka Siong criticized Yoon for allegedly offending the Buddhist community in Malaysia during a club performance in Kuala Lumpur on May 3. Wee called for authorities to take action, prompting the cancellation of Yoon's subsequent show in the country.

In Malaysia, where the majority of the population is Muslim, Yoon's performances have stirred controversy, with local Buddhist groups expressing disapproval.

Yoon has yet to publicly address the allegations, although he shared a clip of his May 3 performance on Instagram.

The Jogye Order has refrained from issuing a formal response to the controversy.

Sayart

Joy, nunimbos@gmail.com