Buddhist sect to seek religious independence


The Jogye Order, Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, announced on Tuesday that it would “normalize” its relationship with the ruling Grand National Party after a six-month standoff over the government’s cut of state aid for temple stay programs.

Ven. Jaseung, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, released an official statement at the Center for Korean Buddhist History and Culture in central Seoul, saying the organization would lift its ban on GNP lawmakers and government officials entering its member temples across the country. The statement also said the sect had decided to accept the state funding it had been rejecting since January.

“Instead of banning and blocking, we’d like to solve problems (with the government) regarding our traditional Buddhist culture and heritage with more communication and an open approach,” Ven. Jaseung told reporters.

In December, the GNP passed a budget bill cutting state aid for temple stay tourism programs from 18.5 billion won ($17 million) to 12.2 billion won for 2011. Protesting the cut, the Jogye Order officially announced in January its member temples would ban GNP lawmakers and government officials.

The organization also had declared it would reject government funding until current president Lee Myung-bak’s term ends in early 2013.

“The Jogye order had decided to take such measures as banning of government officials and rejecting state funding to denounce the government’s religious favoritism and ignorant perception of Korea’s traditional heritage,” Ven. Jaseung said.

“But it was also for our own organization to take some time to think about how we should establish our relationship with the current government and protect our cultural heritage.”

Upon Tuesday’s statement, each member temple of the order will now make its own decision on allowing GNP lawmakers and government officials to attend Buddhist events. The order will also start receiving state aid from the government, while making sure the entire funding process is transparent and fair.

The Jogye Order also said it would continue working with the government to revise some of the laws that limit the organization to freely practice and protect its religious culture.

“If there is a legal problem while we try to protect our old temples, we have to get an approval from the government to make a change,” an official of the Jogye order said. “It’s a very common example of how the government violates our property rights.”

The Jogye Order also plans to start a campaign promoting the religious independence of Korean Buddhism. “From the past six months, we’ve realized it is very important to secure our religious freedom from the state,” Ven Jaseung said. “It is our mission to spread Buddhist teachings and have them accepted to the Korean citizens.”

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)