{"id":7643,"date":"2026-05-07T15:10:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/7643\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T15:10:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T15:10:07","slug":"south-korea-introduces-first-robot-monk-and-people-are-branding-it-ridiculous-and-insulting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/korea\/7643\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea introduces first robot monk \u2013 and people are branding it ‘ridiculous and insulting’"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world’s first robot<\/a> monk has sparked confusion and curiosity after footage emerged showing the humanoid pledging itself to Buddhism.<\/p>\n

The robot, named Gabi and standing around 130cm tall, was dressed in traditional robes during a ceremony at Jogye Temple in Seoul. In the video, a monk asks whether it will commit itself to Buddhism, prompting Gabi to reply: “Yes, I will devote myself.”<\/p>\n

Gabi bows respectfully and clasps its hands in prayer as a fellow monk places a 108-bead rosary around its neck.<\/p>\n

The ceremony was held in the lead-up to celebrations marking Buddha\u2019s birthday on 24 May.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/ AP<\/p>\n

The bizarre sight left online viewers conflicted and straight-up baffled. <\/p>\n

“Someone, please explain to me why? I mean, what is the reason that we are inhibiting robots in here? I want to know the real purpose and need,” one wrote. <\/p>\n

\"\"\/ <\/p>\n

One person, who described themselves as a Buddhist, called the ritual “ridiculous and insulting”.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, a third chimed in: “It is silly and meaningless for a robot to seek transcendence. The inventors just want praise for doing something they want to consider significant. Robots are not alive. They are machines.”<\/p>\n

The head of the Jogye Order\u2019s cultural affairs department, Ven. Seong Won, told Korea JoongAng Daily: “I thought from the moment humanoid robots first appeared that it would be nice if robots could participate in the Lotus Lantern Festival together.<\/p>\n

“We created the Five Precepts for robots as the minimum rules robots should follow in society and for humanity. I hope they can serve as basic principles for humans and robots to coexist.”<\/p>\n

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