The Propagation Department of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the country's largest Buddhist sect, announced on July 1 that it will operate an "Ordination Experience Booth" and a "Lay Buddhist Registration Promotion Booth" at the 2026 Seoul International Buddhism Expo, held at COEX in Seoul from July 2 to 5. The booths were set up to support the order's key initiative of encouraging ordination.
At the Ordination Experience Booth, anyone interested in ordination can receive counseling and hands-on experience to learn about the life of a monastic practitioner and Buddhist values. In the "Ordination Seed" symbolic tonsure ceremony, participants undergo a ritual in which two or three strands of their hair are cut. They receive a Buddhist dharma name, reflect on the symbolic meaning of ordination, and place the cut hair on a Buddhist altar. The Propagation Department explained that the program offers an opportunity to go beyond a simple experience and seriously contemplate the commitment to ordination.
On-site ordination counselor monks will also provide detailed guidance on monastic life, the training process, and ordination procedures. Participants will receive an "Ordination Seed Certificate," and the symbolic ordination seeds they plant will be transferred to affiliated temples across the country for safekeeping. During last year's Seoul International Buddhism Expo, a total of 1,885 people participated in the Ordination Seed experience.
The "Lay Buddhist Registration Promotion Booth," officially operated for the first time this year, will present a roadmap for lay Buddhists and guide visitors through various aspects of religious practice. After registering as lay Buddhists, members can use the "Mobile Lay Buddhist ID" smartphone application, which offers a range of practice content including meditation, sutra e-books, digital sutra transcription, and an artificial intelligence (AI) "Ask the Buddha" feature.