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Korea: Buddhists Rally Against Government's 'Religious Discrimination' Print E-mail
Written by UCANews   
Tuesday, 02 September 2008
Thousands of Buddhists have protested against what they perceive as government bias for Protestantism and against Buddhism.

On Aug. 27, Buddhists from all over the country gathered for an open-air Buddhist prayer and protest rally at a square in front of Seoul City Hall

The Korean Buddhist Orders' Association, which organized the rally, estimated 200,000 participants including around 10,000 monks. The police put the number at about 60,000.

Venerable Wonhak, general affairs director of the Jogye Order, the largest order of Buddhist monks in Korea, led the event.

"Korean Buddhism has contributed significantly to the nation's culture for 1,700 years in this land, but it is now at stake and driven to the street by some indiscreet Protestant fundamentalists dreaming of a 'Protestant Republic' of Korea," he said in his opening address.

"President Lee Myung-bak's government was launched six months ago with all the expectations of the people. However, his administration has degenerated into one of incompetence and has lost trust. Now, it is responsible for religious discrimination threatening the peace among religions," the monk said.

Buddhists have been angered by a series of government actions.

Last June, Venerable Jikwan, Jogye Order chief executive, was subjected to a police inspection in front of his office. Police officers watching Jogyesa Temple for suspects who organized protests in May against the government's decision to resume U.S. beef imports stopped Venerable Jigwan's car coming from his office and searched its trunk. Protest organizers have been taking shelter at the temple since July 6, after police put them on the "wanted list" for allegedly organizing violent street protests.

Buddhists also complained in June, when the government's transport information system, Algoga (find your way), omitted all Buddhist temples on its Seoul map but included even small Protestant churches.

Lee Joo-hyun, a Buddhist at the Aug. 27 rally who spoke with UCA News, charged: "The current government severely and obviously favors Protestantism and discriminates against Buddhism. President Lee is using his regime to spread Christianity, which should be stopped urgently."

Venerable Sukyung, head monk of Hwagyesa Temple in Seoul, said in a rally speech: "We now see how one president's false values are messing up society. The current chaos of the country is caused by his arrogance and self-righteousness based on fundamentalist Protestantism."

The monk called on Lee to "make an official apology and change his administrative philosophy for the common good of the people." He added that the president "should be 'reborn' as the president of (South) Korea, not as a Protestant presbyter."

Anglican Father Abraham Kim Gwang-joon, chairperson of the Ecumenical Committee of the National Council of Churches in Korea, also joined the rally.

"The government is mistaking the anger of Buddhists for simple misunderstanding of its several errors," he said. "However, religious favoritism involves not just Buddhism but also Protestantism. He favors only conservative Protestants who support him and is eager to gather more support from them."

At the rally, Buddhists demanded an official apology from the president and dismissal of government officials they hold responsible for religious discrimination including National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo, a Catholic.

They also asked for legislation against religious discrimination and demanded the activists sheltering at Jogyesa Temple be removed from the police wanted list.

"Unless the government meets our requests in a sincere manner, we will hold additional rallies in other parts of the country in cooperation with civic groups and religious organizations," they warned in a statement.

The rally ended after they marched peacefully to Jogyesa Temple with banners condemning the government's alleged bias.

Father Peter Pai Young-ho, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea, told UCA News on Aug. 28: "I feel pity and great concern for the current situation. Korea is well known for harmony and cooperation among different religions, but the values and acts of some politicians don't follow this model."

The Church official added: "As a religious person, I feel the pain of Buddhists. I wish the government would respond properly."

In the 2005 Population Census, 22.8 percent and 18.3 percent of people claimed Buddhism and Protestantism, respectively. Catholics came third, at 10.9 percent. More than 40 percent of the 47 million South Koreans claimed no religion.
Last Updated ( Monday, 01 September 2008 )