DJ NewJeansNim, who dresses as Buddhist monk, loses shows in Malaysia

Korean Heritage

Published: 10 May. 2024, 16:06 Updated: 10 May. 2024, 19:37

DJ NewJeansNim, who dresses as Buddhist monk, loses shows in Malaysia

DJ NewJeansNim performs during 2024 International Buddhism Expo (BEXPO2024) which was held from April 4 to 7 at SETEC in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. [INTERNATIONAL BUDDHISM EXPO]

DJ NewJeansNim, a Korean comedian-turned-DJ who dresses as a monk with a shaved head, is a trending DJ among young Koreans who is also welcomed by the Korean Buddhist community. However, he is harshly shunned by the Buddhist community in Malaysia.

A performance by the DJ monk alter ego of comedian Yoon Seong-ho initially scheduled to be held on May 21, a day before Vesak Day — a festival day in the country commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha — in a club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has been canceled after the country’s Buddhist community criticized his act for “going against the teachings and values of Buddhism.”

Temple dating, dance parties, and MBTI: Buddhism gets a Gen Z makeover

The May 21 show was a follow-up to the DJ’s May 3 gig at the same venue, Gemu Club.

When that performance went viral among young Malaysian social media users, Young Buddhist Association Malaysia (YBAM) immediately requested the government to ban the Korean DJ from performing.

YBAM said in a statement that NewJeansNim's performance “not only affects the solemnity of Buddhism but may also confuse the public about the true meaning of Buddhist rituals, such as chanting sutras and holding palms together. The public may also misunderstand the precepts that Sangha members need to observe and therefore develop wrong interpretations of Buddhist practice.”

Wee Ka Siong, a member of the Malaysian House of Representatives, also released a statement on May 9, stating that he agrees with the YBAM and that DJNewJeansNim’s “acts have hurt the feelings of the Buddhist community, which will celebrate Vesak Day in two weeks’ time” adding that he is appealing to the relevant government offices to ban the Korean DJ from entering the country in “order to respect the sanctity of Buddhism and preserve religious harmony in Malaysia.”

Gemu Club's instagram post announcing the cancellation of DJ NewJeansNim's performance on May 21. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The Gemu Club announced on its Instagram on May 9 that it has decided to cancel DJNewJeansNim’s show “after careful consideration and in the interest of social harmony,” and that the decision was made “with the well-being and interest of our patrons and communities in mind.”

Another club in Malaysia’s Malacca announced that DJ Bbaku, another name DJNewJeansNim is referred to as in other Asian countries, will be performing on May 31. However, according to Malaysian media reports, the country’s Puspal secretariat, which is the central committee that approves or denies requests for filming and performances by foreign artists, no application has been received yet.

Malaysia is a multiethnic and multicultural country. Though its official state religion is Sunni Islam, 18.7 percent of the population is Buddhist, according to a statistics report from the country’s Ministry of Economy in 2020.

Ven. Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism speaks during the press conference to talk about some of the events to be held for the upcoming Buddha's Birthday on May 15 at the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall in central Seoul on May 9. [NEWS1]

Meanwhile, Venerable Jinwoo, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism said during a press conference held on May 9 that “many young people think monks are too solemn and reverent.”

While speaking highly of DJ NewJeansNim’s activities, Jinwoo said that he “is working as an advance guard spearheading Buddhist culture among young people.” The president of the order recently gifted the DJ with a headset and a Buddhist rosary he had hand-picked.

DJ NewJeansNim is also scheduled to perform over the weekend to mark the upcoming Yeondeunghoe, a lantern lighting festival organized by the Jogye Order for every Buddha’s birthday, which falls on May 15 this year.

Jinwoo said, “Korean Buddhism will make every effort possible to make young people feel close to Buddhism,” adding that he hopes to turn Yeondeunghoe into a “world-class festival, similar to that of the Samba Festival, in order to spread Buddhist culture.”

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]