Buddhist Monk Acknowledges Past Controversy in Debut Episode of 'A Cafe Where Mind Finds Rest'

Courtesy of BTN

Ven. Haemin, a well-known Buddhist monk, reemerged in the public spotlight as a TV show host after a hiatus of approximately three years. The debut episode of his weekly show, "A Cafe Where Mind Finds Rest," aired on Monday, featuring a 42-minute segment where the monk expressed repentance for not meeting expected monk standards.

In the episode, Haemin pledged to let viewers' words guide him in fulfilling his role as a monk, spreading Buddhist teachings and serving others. However, he refrained from delving into the details of the 2020 scandal that led to the cancellation of his TV appearances. 

▲ The Ven. Haemin stars in a TV show about finding inner peace / Courtesy of BTNIn a previous November episode of the tvN reality series "On & Off," Haemin was criticized for portraying a lifestyle perceived as that of an ambitious startup CEO. The footage revealed him working on a meditation app with employees at a company he had established in Seoul. Critics pointed out his use of a MacBook Pro and the preparation of a meal seemingly inconsistent with traditional monk practices.

The controversy intensified with speculation that Haemin, also known as Joo Bong-seok on his Korean national ID and Ryan Bongseok Joo on his US passport, may have purchased a Brooklyn apartment for $610,000 in 2011. Despite calls for an explanation, Haemin chose not to address the issue directly.

Haemin, who holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard Divinity School, and Princeton University, received formal monastic training at Haeinsa, a Jogye Order temple. His website, available in English, includes links to Amazon, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), providing information on his book releases, including the bestselling "The Thing You Can See Only When You Slow Down."

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