The Abbot of Bongeunsa Temple
The Abbot of Bongeunsa Temple.
Monk Beopgyeong walked with the face of a child going to play in a sandbox.
He was excited to see the layman again after the
Although he'd heard that nothing could be placed in the exhibition space unlike ordinary galleries, Secretary Ryu Su-heon, who was in charge, had said that the layman would be visiting in person today, so the items could be delivered.
"I'll hand these over and casually shift the conversation to... no, no need to shift anything. Even just managing to invite him to Bongeunsa Temple sometime would be enough."
Monk Beopgyeong's head sparkled under the sunlight as he slowly walked, his mind racing with thoughts.
Donors visiting the temple often said that the layman worked only when inspired. So if he needed inspiration to work, then all they had to do was provide that inspiration.
Bongeunsa, a thousand-year-old temple nestled in the city, held many annual events.
In January, they had the Jeju and mandarin festivals. In December, red bean porridge. On the last day of the year, a New Year's ceremony... With endless events throughout the year, the temple had something to offer no matter when one visited.
"So if the layman were to visit even once, it wouldn't be a dream to see a unique Bongeunsa Buddha statue crafted by him...!"
With that thought, Monk Beopgyeong paused and began rolling his prayer beads through his fingers, calming his excitement with Buddhist mindfulness.
He couldn't afford to appear unkempt when meeting the layman. Rolling one bead at a time like plucking a geomungo string, he composed himself.
Beside him was Cardinal Yeom Jin-seok Stefano, his cheeks flushed red.
"Monk, aren't you going in?"
Cardinal Yeom looked at the abbot with a puzzled expression. Though his face was red, as if he'd been drinking, his expression was serene and kind like a still lake.
"Ah, Cardinal. I apologize. A Buddhist teaching suddenly came to mind, and I was reflecting on the Buddha's words."
"I see. That happens from time to time," the Cardinal replied with an understanding smile, then began walking slowly.
Monk Beopgyeong watched him walk past the signboard of [Yongsin Land], where twin dragons faced each other.
Cardinal Yeom Jin-seok Stefano.
He was a Korean-Italian who had formed a connection with Korean Buddhism in 2012, when he and German and Japanese cardinals visited Hwagyesa Temple, a fellow Jogye Order temple, and had tea with the monks.
Through various links and connections, that relationship had now tied him not to Hwagyesa, but to Bongeunsa's abbot, Beopgyeong. Perhaps this was what the Buddha meant by fleeting and true karmic ties.
Thinking this, Monk Beopgyeong smiled gently, just like the Cardinal.
As he followed the Cardinal toward Yongsin Land, two figures caught his eye — not far off, they were watching them.
It was Kang-seok and a man with a haggard face.
"I'll come out to greet you."
From that earlier phone call, Beopgyeong had easily guessed that the man must be Secretary Ryu Su-heon. Confirming his guess, Ryu brightened as he approached Beopgyeong and Yeom.
"Monk, Cardinal."
"Layman."
"Brother."
"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Secretary Ryu Su-heon from the Cultural Arts Division. Please, feel free to speak casually."
"It's an honor for me as well, Brother."
"This is all due to our karmic ties, isn't it, Layman?"
Nodding, Ryu turned to Kang-seok, who gave a slight bow toward them.
"Layman."
As Monk Beopgyeong greeted with palms pressed together, Kang-seok bowed back and turned his gaze to the Cardinal.
"Brother, it's an honor to meet you."
"Yes."
His calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the bright-eyed Monk Beopgyeong.
Was he just here to view the exhibit and not a new client after all? It had been a while since Kang-seok had seen someone remain composed in front of him, so he looked again at Cardinal Yeom.
The Cardinal's flushed face gave the impression he was in a sweltering place — hard to believe it was only early November.
Well, it didn't matter.
Kang-seok withdrew his brief gaze.
If he wasn't a client, he had no interest.
"Layman, I heard it's customary to bring gifts to an exhibit opening, so I've prepared something for you."
"Excuse me?"
Startled, Kang-seok looked at the monk's hands — indeed, he was holding drinks and a bouquet.
This was Bongeunsa? In the middle of Seoul?
"...Thank you."
Holding the fruit juice gift set and bouquet, Kang-seok looked stunned. He hadn't expected any congratulatory gifts — especially since gifts like chocolates and flowers were banned for safety.
Looking down at the bouquet, he felt a sudden wave of emotion. It had been a long time since he'd received a gift after completing a work.
"It's nothing. I just wanted to congratulate you. But Layman,"
"Yes? Please speak."
Then Monk Beopgyeong's eyes gleamed subtly beneath his gentle expression.
"Our last conversation ended somewhat abruptly… If you have time today, would you care to sit and chat over some tea?"
Kang-seok glanced at his phone.
It was approaching 3 p.m.
He calculated the time, then furrowed his brow slightly.
With an apologetic smile, his eyebrows tilted sympathetically toward the monk.
"I'd love to, but I have another appointment."
Strictly speaking, Kang-seok was a senior in high school.
With his excused absence days dwindling, he packed multiple events into a single weekday — just like a working professional using a day off to run errands.
He only had about 30 minutes of free time left. Too little to go to a café.
Shaking his head, he declined.
Seeing this, Monk Beopgyeong looked disappointed and bowed his head.
"Ah… I see."
Like a child left alone in the playground after friends had gone home, the monk bowed his head and nodded.
He couldn't selfishly ask someone to cancel their appointment.
"Then please do visit Bongeunsa when you have time."
"Yes, I will."
"Then I'll go now to enjoy your exhibit. Please don't worry about me and carry on with your schedule."
Our connection isn't one to end so easily.
Quickly regaining his composure, Beopgyeong returned to his grandfatherly gentleness and nodded.
Kang-seok bowed again in return.
Then the monk slowly turned away — promising himself a next meeting.
"Then I'll take my leave as well. If fate allows, we shall meet again, brothers."
With a merciful smile on his red face, Cardinal Yeom bowed and turned. He had followed at Beopgyeong's insistence, but as a Vatican official, he had no interest in Secretary Ryu or Kang-seok.
His standards, honed in the Vatican, were too high for most artists to meet.
As Cardinal Yeom and Monk Beopgyeong walked toward the abandoned building where Psyche (Ψυχή) was on display, Ryu Su-heon's mouth fell open.
His breath smelled of countless blended coffees.
"Wait, Artist. You know Monk Beopgyeong personally?"
As someone not directly involved, Ryu had known Gwanghwa Tathagata had been temporarily displayed at Bongeunsa, but had no idea Kang-seok spoke so freely with the abbot.
Blink, blink.
Ryu, a sincere fan of Kang-seok, had tried to connect him with the Vatican's Cardinal and the Bongeunsa abbot — two of the highest religious contacts — but the plan had ended in vain.
Shock.
Still, he looked longingly toward the retreating Cardinal.
It would've been great to forge a bond with him too. But Cardinal Yeom seemed to have no interest in Kang-seok.
Seeing Ryu's disappointed face, Kang-seok offered a reassuring look.
"I really appreciate your intentions, but it's okay."
He wasn't clinging to religious collaborations anymore. No need to force it.
Kang-seok smiled. Though brief, he appreciated Ryu's sincere effort.
In Korea's art world, connections are everything.
Money, fame, education, regional and school ties — they run the system.
Since overwhelming talent alone takes time to be recognized, Ryu's attempt to fast-track Kang-seok with high-level introductions was genuinely touching.
"Sorry I couldn't be more help. I feel like I made you come for nothing."
"No, not at all."
Kang-seok smiled.
His gaze drifted to the abandoned building, where Monk Beopgyeong entered smoothly, and Cardinal Yeom was halted — told only one person could enter at a time.
Kang-seok's lips twitched.
There's no way he'll keep that calm face after seeing my work.
Especially Psyche (Ψυχή).
It was a battle he'd already won.
"It may not be without its rewards."
Showing composure now would give him the upper hand at their next meeting.
With the mental game done, Kang-seok suddenly let out a short exclamation.
"Oh, by the way, Secretary."
"Yes?"
"I really liked the recent renovation work. Could you introduce the company that handled it? You could just share the contact info."
"An introduction?"
Ryu looked surprised.
"Oh — are you planning to remodel or start some construction?"
His face lit up, even with dark circles under his eyes.
Kang-seok nodded.
"Yes, something like that came up."
"Ah, I see… Oh! You mean the new place you moved into?"
While speaking, Ryu reached into his pocket — searching for his business card holder.
Though sharing a contact would've sufficed, Ryu preferred analog methods and didn't think of that. He flipped through the cards and handed one — stiff and finely embossed — to Kang-seok.
Kang-seok nodded as if out of courtesy, pretending to check the name and contact details. At the same time, he moved to answer Ryu Su-heon's question.
"No, it's not like that. I'll let you know once it's confirmed. Right now, we're only in the planning stage..."
Saying that, Kang-seok looked up after checking the back of the business card.
"Oh, really?"
"Thanks for giving me your contact. I'll try reaching out sometime."
"Yes, and do tell me once it's confirmed. I'm curious."
"I will. But, Secretary Ryu... I have another appointment, so I think I should get going. Is that okay?"
"Ah, of course. I'll see you out."
...
While Kang-seok crossed the entrance of Yongshin Land and headed to his next appointment, the monk Beopgyeong stepped outside with the help of staff members.
It wasn't easy for someone of Beopgyeong's age to navigate out of the pitch-dark place alone in a dazed state.
"So that's why the layman restricted this exhibit to adults only. I see... haah."
Turning his prayer beads, Beopgyeong recited scriptures quietly. His face flushed, he shook his head fiercely, as if trying to erase memories of monsoon days from his youth.
Before Cardinal Stefano Yeom Jin-seok could ask Beopgyeong what was wrong—
Creeeak. The door opened again.
Despite only admitting people one at a time, the preparation was remarkably swift.
"Next, please come in."
Cardinal Yeom looked briefly at the hooded figure gesturing toward him and then slowly walked forward.
"I'll be back."
Whatever was going on, he would find out by experiencing it.
As he entered the abandoned building, the hooded person quietly closed the door.
Creeeak. Slam!
Startled by the loud noise, Cardinal Yeom clutched the rosary under his cassock. Suddenly, he was engulfed in complete darkness.
A haunted house?
It reminded him of the haunted houses he used to visit as a child.
Just then, surrounded by darkness, he saw a candelabrum lit with radiant flames slowly appear.
— You there. Climb the stairs.
The voice was deep, as if it echoed from a cave.
Cardinal Yeom made a conflicted expression. Should a man of the cloth indulge in such worldly entertainment? Muttering, he pressed forward.
Gripping the railing, he slowly climbed the stairs by candlelight. Inwardly, he thought about how Monk Beopgyeong from Bongeunsa was more frightened than he seemed.
Once at the top of the stairs, the voice rang out again.
— If you're curious, take the candelabrum.
"Very well."
With a gentle expression, as if to grant absolution, Yeom took the candelabrum. Something brushed against his cassock, but he thought nothing of it.
The voice continued in sync with the story unfolding in the darkness.
— Don't you want to know? If you're curious, lift the candelabrum.
Yeom nodded and raised it without hesitation. Even as he lifted it, he thought, Now's the part where someone in ghost makeup jumps out, or maybe the stairs collapse...
But he hadn't heard Beopgyeong scream earlier... As that thought passed, the moment he raised the candelabrum with force—
There was a whirring, clicking sound like a large wheel turning and a spring being wound. Then, with a clunk, the lights came on.
Yeom, who had been looking at the ceiling, gasped at the divine light that nearly blinded him.
His pupils trembled.
It was awe-inspiring.
Angel feathers.
Thousands of butterflies fluttering across a heavenly sky.
And the woman above, looking down at him with mercy and grace...
There was no mistaking it.
Yeom, trembling, looked up and called out to the woman who extended her arms toward him.
"Mother Mary..."
The Virgin Mary was watching over him.
"I'm planning to reclaim Sunset now."
Late afternoon.
A chill was setting in as day turned into night. Shivering slightly, Seol Yeo-jin pulled her cardigan closer and gazed ahead with regret.
She had suspected it since the moment they set the appointment—but still, now it was clear.
Looking at Kang-seok sitting in front of her, Seol Yeo-jin spoke.
"Ah, Sunset... Right. I suppose it's about time."
Originally, the only reason Jayak Gallery had been able to exhibit Sunset until now was because Professor Park Ji-yeop had purchased the rights to exhibit the piece from artist Go Du-han after him and commissioned Jayak Gallery to display it.
In short, the gallery had been handling the exhibition on someone else's behalf.
After that commission ended, Seol Yeo-jin had naturally continued to exhibit Sunset by renewing the rights through payments included with the settlement for Glass Peonies. Kang-seok had tacitly allowed it—but his words today signaled that this arrangement was coming to an end.
Oh dear.
How unfortunate.
Crunch. Seol bit into her candy with a sigh and leaned her cheek against her palm.
Her expression was delicate, her long lashes fluttering slowly like butterflies. But Kang-seok met her gaze with an expressionless face.
That's it, then.
With a regretful look, Seol twirled the candy stick and straightened her posture. She crossed her legs and nodded toward Kim Yoon-seo, then spoke with a soft smile still on her lips.
"Yoon-seo."
"Yes."
"Start preparing to take down Sunset and transfer it. Bring the existing financial statements and transfer confirmation forms."
"Yes, Director."
With a slight bow, Kim Yoon-seo left the office to begin the task.
Click.
Seol watched her leave, then turned back to Kang-seok. With genuine curiosity this time, she asked:
"So, Kang-seok... why Sunset, all of a sudden? Don't tell me you're planning to sell the exhibition rights to another gallery?"
Who is it?!
Who dared to offer better terms than us?!
Her eyes sparkled with suspicion as she bit down hard on her candy. But Kang-seok waved his hand as if to deny it, a faint smile on his lips.
"No way. Glass Peonies and Sunset have such great synergy together."
"Right? I thought so too. I just worried someone had sweet-talked you into it."
She laughed gently, covering her mouth, then tilted her head slightly and asked:
"Then, may I ask what the reason is?"
"Oh, it's really nothing big... I just thought I might try making a series from Sunset."
"A series?!"
That's not a small thing!
A series—meaning an artist creates multiple works around the same subject or character. The most famous example would be Claude Monet's Water Lilies series.
Creating a series meant extending the artist's philosophy and vision on the subject. If it grew large enough, it could become a collectible set.
Kang-seok had never made a series before.
A series... now that I think about it, there's no better subject than Sunset for that.
Sunset was already a vast tableau of hundreds, thousands of human sketches. There were countless directions a series could take.
So exciting.
What would it become?
Seol looked at Kang-seok with eyes full of curiosity.
But there was a more pressing question.
"Then once the series is complete, what do you plan to do with Sunset and its new pieces?"
She had to have them.
Money, or no money—
Seol clenched the armrest of the sofa tightly. She held it like someone hoping a claw machine would grip the toy just right.
Gulp. She swallowed and cautiously posed her gamble.
"If you haven't decided what to do with Sunset and its series yet…"
As she trailed off hesitantly, Kang-seok gently cut in.
"I'm thinking of showcasing Sunset and its series at an art fair."
An art fair.
A commercial art market where artists present flashy, often light works to sell. The Colosseum of the art world.
Seol leaned back into the sofa.
The fact that he would bring it to a sales-driven event didn't just mean he wanted to sell it—because Kang-seok wasn't someone desperate to sell his work.
For him to go to an art fair meant...
Seol fell silent.
Kang-seok offered a rare, kind smile and said:
"I think it's about time I showed my face internationally."
A declaration of war on the global art scene.