Senior Jogye Order monk Wonhaeng Daesongsa dies at Woljeongsa Monastery
A senior monk of the Jogye Order, Venerable Wonhaeng Daesongsa of Jagwangdang, died on the evening of the 12th. The Jogye Order’s Elders’ Council said he passed away at 7:47 p.m. at Woljeongsa, the main monastery of the fourth district headquarters on Odaesan.
Born in 1942, Wonhaeng began his monastic life in 1970 under the guidance of Venerable Heechan. He received monastic precepts at Woljeongsa with Venerable Manhwa as monk preceptor and was later ordained under Venerable Tanheo. He held prominent roles within the Jogye Order, including serving as a member of the 10th Central Council and a member of the Order’s disciplinary council.
Wonhaeng also held several abbatial posts across the country. He led Jagwangsa on Gyeryongsan in Daejeon, then Samhwasa on Dutasan in Donghae, and Guryongsa on Chiaksan in Wonju. He later served as the deputy abbot of Woljeongsa on Odaesan and was the head monk overseeing the Palman Daejanggeong (the Tripitaka Koreana) at Haeinsa in Hapcheon, part of the Gayasan mountain area.
In 2018, Wonhaeng was elected as a member of the Jogye Order’s Elders’ Council, the body that represents senior monks within the nation’s largest Buddhist tradition. His passing marks the loss of a high-ranking figure with decades of leadership roles in Korea’s Buddhist establishment.
A condolence altar has been set up at Woljeongsa’s Hwaeomru, and the funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 16th at Woljeongsa. The Jong Order notes that the service will be held in keeping with traditional rites.
Why this matters beyond Korea: The Jogye Order plays a central role in South Korea’s religious and civil society, operating hundreds of temples and engaging in social welfare, education, and interfaith dialogue. Leadership changes at this level can influence how Buddhist institutions cooperate with government agencies on cultural preservation, charitable activities, and international outreach, including networks with Buddhist communities abroad such as in the United States. Woljeongsa, located on Odaesan in Gangwon Province, is a major site for religious tourism and cultural heritage, closely tied to regional economies and Korea’s broader cultural diplomacy.
The Palman Daejanggeong at Haeinsa, which Wonhaeng oversaw, is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure and a cornerstone of Korea’s Buddhist heritage. Movements within the senior ranks of the Jogye Order can affect scholarly exchanges, museum collaborations, and international interest in Korea’s religious history, including academic and visitor flows from the United States.