A comedian-turned-musician Yoon Sung-ho, known as DJ NewJeansNim, has faced backlash from the local Buddhist community in Southeast Asia for wearing monastic robes during his club performances. This controversy has led to the cancellation of several shows and sparked a broader debate within the Korean Buddhist community about how Buddhism should adapt to modern times, referred to as the “uniform controversy.”
Some have remarked that “NewJeansNim, who has become an international sensation, is now at the center of a debate that will go down in the 1,600-year history of Korean Buddhism.”
The controversy began when Yoon performed in monastic robes at a club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, early last month. Local Buddhists and politicians reacted strongly. Malaysian lawmaker Wee Ka Siong issued a statement saying, “His controversial acts have hurt the feelings of the Buddhist community,” and urged the home affairs minister to prevent Yoon’s entry into Malaysia to “respect the sanctity of Buddhism and preserve religious harmony.” As a result, all of Yoon’s subsequent performances were canceled.
Yoon’s planned performance in Singapore was also canceled after the Singapore Buddhist Federation called for its cancellation to “avoid bringing embarrassment to Buddhists.” Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam warned on Facebook that “action will be taken” if Yoon proceeded with his usual act.
The debate extended to the Korean Buddhist community. Last month, Monk Jeonghyeon contributed an article to the Buddhist press Beobpo Shinmun titled “Can Anyone Wear Monastic Robes?” He argued that “monastic robes are special garments signifying the status of monks,” comparing it to the illegality of civilians wearing military or police uniforms.
In response, Monk Ilyoon published a rebuttal titled “Anyone Can Wear Monastic Robes!” He cited the example of actor Hwang Jung-min playing a fake pastor in the drama “Narco-Saints,” suggesting that “the public can distinguish between fictional characters and real clergy.” Ilyoon argued that opposing DJ NewJeansNim’s use of monastic robes would discourage the portrayal of Buddhism in popular culture, which could be detrimental in the long run.
The two monks continued their exchange with arguments and counterarguments such as “the significance of monastic robes should not be taken lightly” versus “the real crisis for Buddhism is public indifference; without engaging with the public, it will decline.”
According to a survey on religious perceptions by Hankook Research conducted last December, 51% of Koreans identified as non-religious, with 69% of those in their 20s and 62% in their 30s claiming no religious affiliation. The number of novices in the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism also drastically dropped from 528 in 2000 to 61 in 2022. Some within the Buddhist community see the DJ NewJeansNim controversy as a “much-needed rain during a drought,” given their concerns about the sustainability of the order.
Experts have noted that the debate reflects Buddhism’s long-standing adaptability and tolerance. Kim Dong-kyu of the Academic Center for K-Religions at Sogang University said, “This debate shows how religions must evolve with the times.” Additionally, the different religious landscape of South Korea compared to Southeast Asia was highlighted, with Buddhism having a more significant cultural influence in Korea.
Malaysia’s constitution designates Islam as the state religion, with only 19.8% of the population being Buddhist compared to 61% Muslim. In Singapore, Buddhists make up 31% of the population, less than the combined total of Christians, Muslims, and Taoists at 43%. Professor Han Jae-hee of Dongguk University’s Department of Buddhist Studies commented, “This is an example of the inclusivity, tolerance, and openness that Buddhism has maintained over 1,600 years.”
