Overview
- Four humanoid robot monks marched through central Seoul on Saturday, covering the Heunginjimun Gate–to–Tapgol Park route in about 40 minutes.
- The robots — Gabi, Seokja, Mohui and Nisa — wore monastic robes, with blue-lit faces in place of handheld lanterns.
- Organizers counted about 50,000 marchers carrying roughly 100,000 lanterns, and the Jogye Order estimated total turnout near 500,000, up from 430,000 last year.
- Two self-driving robots named Newbie joined the procession, and Dongguk University’s AI robot monk Hyean took part as well.
- Earlier in May, Gabi underwent a symbolic ordination at Jogyesa Temple, a step presented as part of a drive to connect Korean Buddhism with younger people.