PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL<br/> <br />This secretly shot footage shows supposedly abstemious Buddhist monks smoking, drinking and playing poker for big stakes at a luxury hotel.<br/> <br />Six leaders of South Korea's largest Buddhist order have quit over the scandal.<br/> <br />The Jogye order's spiritual leader has apologised publicly.<br/> <br />HIGHEST SPIRITUAL LEADER AT JOGYE ORDER, JINJE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"They did a bad thing, following the junior monks, I will self-repent on their behalf."<br/> <br />The monks marathon poker session for stakes worth more than 875, 000 dollars has shocked many, just days before a national holiday to mark the birth of Buddha.<br/> <br />Gambling outside licensed casinos and horse racing tracks is illegal in South Korea and frowned on by religious leaders.<br/> <br />The monks' actions have led to media speculation of a power split within the order which has some 10 million followers.<br/> <br />Paul Chapman, Reuters
