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Robot Monk? South Korea unveils humanoid disciple at Buddhist temple

A humanoid robot named Gabi has become South Korea’s first robot Buddhist monk. The robot made its debut at Seoul’s Jogye Temple ahead of Buddha’s birthday celebrations. Dressed in traditional robes, Gabi bowed before monks and pledged devotion to Buddhism, reflecting the growing intersection of AI, culture and religion.

Gabi folded its hands and bowed during the ceremony in South Korea. Reuters

FP Lifestyle Desk|May 07, 2026, 08:57:01 IST

What if spirituality and technology could come together? This is a reality now. South Korea’s first humanoid robot monk which officially debuted at Seoul’s Jogye Temple depicts just that.

Ahead of celebrations for Buddha’s birthday, the robot monk's introduction marks an unusual intersection of Buddhism and artificial intelligence.

According to Reuters, The 130-centimetre-tall robot, named Gabi, wore traditional grey and brown Buddhist robes and stood before senior monks during a ceremonial ordination event. When asked by a monk if it would devote itself to Buddhism, the robot replied, “Yes, I will devote myself.”

Gabi folded its hands and bowed during the ceremony as monks placed a 108-bead rosary around its neck. Instead of undergoing the traditional incense burn ritual, the robot received a symbolic sticker, report says.

South Korean robot monk Gabi unveiled at Jogye Temple

According to the Jogye Order, the name Gabi draws from Siddhartha and the Korean word associated with mercy. Ven. Seong Won, who oversees cultural affairs at the Jogye Order, told Yonhap News Agency, the name was chosen to be easy to pronounce while reflecting the idea of spreading Buddha’s compassion globally.

Seong Won told the agency that the initiative is an early attempt to explore coexistence between humans and robots. While it may seem unusual for now, he said such efforts could help shape how society adapts to artificial intelligence.

Gabi is expected to participate in a lantern festival later this month alongside other robots.

Humanoid robots gain visibility across industries

The debut comes as humanoid robots are increasingly being introduced for public-facing roles across industries.

Japan Airlines is testing AI-powered robots for baggage and cargo handling, while technology companies continue investing in robotics and embodied AI systems.

Meta recently acquired robotics startup Assured Robot Intelligence as part of its broader push into humanoid machines and AI-driven technologies.

The ceremony at Jogye Temple drew attention online and in local media, highlighting South Korea’s growing interest in combining traditional culture with emerging technology.