His secular name is Kim Geum Taek. Tan Heo is is posthumous Buddhist name and his Buddhist name is Tak Seong.

He was born in North Jeolla province, Korea in 1913. When he was 15, he exchanged mail with a high priest, Han-am, to have an answer for Dao. When he was 22, he entered the priesthood at Sang-won-sa in Oh-dae-san.

He had a extensive knowledge about Eatern philosophy and he gave a lecture about the Avatamska Sutra at the Eastern philosophy seminar in Japan and Taiwan. Especially, in Taiwanese University, he was held in respected as a world-wide great scholar in religious comparative study. In 1983, he passed away at 71.

Tan-heo was a Buddhist scholar who knew not only Buddhism, but also Confucism, Daoism and overall Eastern philosophy. Especially he was known as a great Buddhist scholars of the Avatamska Sutra which is known for its abstrucsity and the Book of change in our time. He foretold the time of his death by only 10 hours difference and 13 sarira came from his body.

His ability of prophecy was well known by foretelling Korean war, Uljin Samcheok armed spy incident and pareparing the disaster. During Vietnam war, he also predicted that the US would not win the war and widthdraw from Vietnam.

Tan-heo's father, Kim Hong Gyu, was a seeker after truth and participated actively as a middle-grade member(one of 24 leaders) in early Jeung San Do's first movement. As a Buddhist leader, Tan-heo often mentioned Gae-byuk and Later Heaven and the background of his idea was deeply influenced by his father's Jeung San Do teachings.