A taxi driver said to have had fanatical religious beliefs was found dead Sunday on a wooden cross in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, police said.

In an apparent emulation of the crucifixion of Jesus, his hands and feet were found nailed to a cross in an abandoned quarry mine.

The 58-year-old man surnamed Kim wore something similar to a crown of thorns on his head. He was wearing only underpants and had a wound on his right side.

Police found tools and a drawn-up plan for the cross in a nearby tent where Kim had resided. A whip was also found, which appeared to have been used to lash his body, and instructions on how to hang himself on the cross.

A former pastor in the town told police that Kim had visited him once and talked about religion. He said Kim had extreme views on the subject.

An autopsy showed that Kim used an electric drill to make holes in his palms, according to police.

Police noted that the death occurred around Easter and are investigating whether he killed himself and if anyone assisted him in the process.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)