Helena Burke

He cuts a striking figure, 130 centimetres of metal and plastic, wearing traditional orange robes as he waddles towards a temple. Garbi then completes the full ritual sequence for new monks. He joins his palms in prayer, bows to the Buddha and receives a rosary before swearing his devotion to Buddhism.

The ceremony in Seoul was organized by the Jogia Order, the Korean sector of Buddhism. It's believed the order decided to ordain Gabi as part of an effort to appeal to younger generations and to help address a shortage of monks. The number of new initiates into the Jogia Order dropped from 319 in 2005 to just 99 in 2025. Gabi was welcomed with open arms by his fellow monks.

Jogia-oikeus

Helena Burke reporting.