South Korean ‘Monk DJ’ enrages Malaysian Buddhist community for leading nightclub revellers in ‘prayer’ dance

The controversial DJ, whose moves have upset Buddhists, struts his stuff in front of revellers. Photo: Weibo

• Comedian Yoon Seong-ho undergoes Buddhist initiation ritual, becomes DJ
• Wears monk's robes, includes Buddhist elements in sets, has global reach

A South Korean entertainer, known as Monk DJ, has sparked controversy in Malaysia for his prayer-like dance moves, which are considered disrespectful to the Buddhist faith.

Yoon Seong-ho, 47, is not a monk, but a comedian who underwent a Buddhist initiation ritual at Jogye Temple in South Korea in November last year.

He was given the Dharma name "New Jin" by his master, which means "striving forward into the new", according to the China Press.

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He calls himself "DJ NewJeansNim" and incorporates Buddhist elements into his electronic music, such as striking a wooden fish.

Yoon says he aims to use his identity as a DJ to promote a better understanding of Buddhism and to challenge prejudices against it.

In May last year he gained fame with his song Buddha Handsome and attracted 88,400 followers on YouTube.

Dressed in monk's robes, Yoon appears at music festivals in South Korea and Malaysia where he mixes music and incorporates rapping and prayer gestures into his live sets.

On May 3, after his performance at a club in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Yoon faced condemnation from local politicians and the Buddhist community.

Malaysian lawmaker Wee Ka Siong expressed concerns that DJ NewJeansNim's performance might misrepresent Buddhist values and teachings.

The Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia received complaints from devotees, saying that his performance was offensive and disrespectful to the Buddhist way of life.

"He is not a real monk at all. He is just using Buddhism to gain fame for himself," one online observer said on YouTube.

As a result, other appearances scheduled for Malaysia, including those planned for May 21 in Kuala Lumpur and May 31 in Melaka, were cancelled.

"I'm so disappointed. I wanted some spiritual cleansing and was looking forward to seeing him," one online observer wrote on Instagram.

"Do not give up, you did nothing wrong, and thanks for bringing this show to us," another person said.

In April, the largest Korean Buddhist sect, the Jogye Order, presented Yoon with a pair of DJ headphones, saying: "New Jin has played a crucial role in promoting new and youthful Buddhism to the younger generation."

On May 12, Yoon told South Korean television network JTBC that his prayer-like hand movements synchronised with the music are a form of dance aimed at alleviating suffering.

He also integrates Buddhist teachings into his lyrics, such as: "Everything will pass, as long as you overcome suffering, you will reach paradise."

Regarding his sudden fame, Yoon said: "To be honest, I feel a significant sense of responsibility. I need to perform better and I don't want to let people down."

He told JTBC that he has studied Chinese and plans to master English this year, which will be beneficial for his international performances.

On May 17, he made his debut show in Hong Kong, performing at a nightclub in the city's Central district. He will perform in the city again next month.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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