Robot Monk Gabi Introduced at Seoul Buddhist Ceremony
Robot Monk Gabi became South Korea’s first humanoid robot monk during a special Buddhist ceremony held at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on 6 May 2026. The robot was introduced by the Jogye Order before Buddha’s Birthday celebrations on 24 May 2026.
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Gabi is a humanoid robot designed with a human-like body, including arms, legs, and a head. The robot stands about 130 centimetres tall and wore traditional grey-and-brown Buddhist robes during the event.
At the ceremony, Gabi bowed before senior monks and promised devotion to Buddhism. The robot also received the Dharma name “Gabi.” The name combines Siddhartha, the birth name of Buddha, and “jabi,” a Korean word meaning mercy.
Special Buddhist Rules for Robot Monk Gabi
The Jogye Order created five modified Buddhist precepts specially for Gabi. These rules included respecting life, avoiding damage to robots or objects, obeying humans, speaking honestly, and saving energy by not overcharging.
Instead of the traditional yeonbi ritual, where monks receive incense burns, the ceremony used a different symbolic practice suitable for the robot monk.
Gabi also received a 108-bead rosary and a Lotus Lantern Festival sticker during the event.
Robot Monk Gabi and the Lotus Lantern Festival
The Lotus Lantern Festival is one of South Korea’s biggest Buddhist celebrations and is connected with Buddha’s Birthday. Buddha’s Birthday is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar in many East Asian Buddhist traditions.
Gabi is expected to participate in lantern parades alongside other Buddhist robots named Seokja, Mohee, and Nisa.
Humanoid Robots and Modern Technology
Humanoid robots are machines designed to look and move like humans. They are used in research, public demonstrations, customer service, and educational activities across many countries.
The robot monk Gabi was built using the Unitree G1 platform developed by Unitree Robotics. The company is known for creating advanced humanoid robots for different technology projects.
Jogyesa Temple, where the ceremony took place, is one of the most important Buddhist temples in central Seoul and belongs to the largest Buddhist order in South Korea.
