Monk Hyemin quits Twitter in ‘vow of silence’

Ven. Hyemin, a well-known Buddhist monk and an influential figure on South Korean social networks, announced Monday that he is quitting Twitter to “look back” at himself.

“Recently I came to think that I may have been speaking too much since starting to use Twitter,” he wrote on his account. “I will now take a vow of silence and look back at myself.”

He added that communicating online had brought him “much joy.” 

Ven. Hyemin had been giving online advice and thought-provoking comments to his half million followers on Twitter. Among young Koreans, he is considered a leading mentor that counsels people suffering from various difficulties in relationships.

“(Young people) do not want a revelation. They just want to cure their wounds left by relationships. They want someone who will listen and connect to them,” Ven. Hyemin recently said.

His book on soul searching, “Things Can Be Seen When You Stop,” was voted the Best Book of 2012 by users of online bookseller Interpark. The book offers insights into relationships, finding life’s passions, and appreciating one’s own values.

The Princeton-educated monk ― whose real name is Joo Bong-seok ― is currently working as an assistant professor of East Asian religions at Hampshire College.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)