The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_X_on_2023.svgbt_X_over_2023.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea to expand visa benefits to accelerate inbound tourism

  • 3

    Why Korean shoppers flock to Chinese e-commerce sites

  • 5

    Will Korea avoid hard landing in housing market?

  • 7

    'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea

  • 9

    Footballer Hwang's sister-in-law indicted for disclosing his private videos

  • 11

    '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation

  • 13

    CITYSCAPESDrone pilot explores Korea's hardest-to-reach places

  • 15

    K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades

  • 17

    Love and hope in Korea

  • 19

    LG Energy Solution wins battery module supply deal in Poland

  • 2

    Seoul awards honorary citizenship to outstanding foreign residents

  • 4

    Israeli TV shows footage of stripped detainees in Gaza

  • 6

    INTERVIEWEx-NIS chief urges politicians to stop misusing spy agency

  • 8

    Seoul-Moscow ties likely stuck in limbo amid blame game

  • 10

    Hyundai Motor hires former US Ambassador to Korea Sung Kim as adviser

  • 12

    'Squid Game' director promises 'deeper story' with new characters, games for Season 2

  • 14

    Pro-labor 'yellow envelope bill' scrapped in revote after Yoon's veto

  • 16

    US defense policy bill calls for maintaining 28,500 US troops in Korea

  • 18

    Hanwha signs $2.4 bil. deal to export infantry fighting vehicles to Australia

  • 20

    NK urges people to follow leader Kim Jong-un in climbing Mount Paektu

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, December 10, 2023 | 16:31
President Embarrassed Over Angry Buddhists
Posted : 2008-07-30 17:54
Updated : 2008-07-30 17:54
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link


By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Conflict between Buddhists and the Lee Myung-bak government is escalating with Buddhists openly denouncing what they call a series of discriminative measures against the religion.

They claim they receive such ``disrespectful'' treatment because the President is a Christian.

The latest incident came Tuesday when police searched a Buddhist leaders' car.

Ven. Jigwan, executive chief of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order, was on his way to a meeting when police officers stopped the car at the gate of Jogye Temple in central Seoul around 4 p.m. The temple has been under police surveillance since July 6, as six anti-U.S. beef candlelight rally organizers sought refuge there in order to avoid arrest.

``As Ven. Jigwan lowered the car window and showed his face to the officers to identify himself, an officer said `We need a more thorough inspection,' and searched the car, opening the trunk,'' Ven. Seungwon, the spokesman of the order said.

Some 70 staff members of the order visited Jongno Police Station in the evening to protest, and the station chief apologized. Soul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Kim Suk-ki also tried to visit Ven. Jigwan to apologize, but he refused to meet the chief.

``According to the law, police can search criminals caught red-handed or those likely to commit crimes. This incident shows police regarded the executive chief, who represents 20 million Korean Buddhists, as a criminal or would-be-criminal,'' the spokesman said.

They demanded those in charge of the incident be punished, National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo resign, and police officers around the temple be withdrawn.

It is not the first time that the Buddhist circle has protested against the Lee government for ``inhospitable'' treatment.

In June, it was found that a transportation information service provided by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs did not include locations of temples across the nation. Following protests from Buddhists, Minister Chung Jong-hwan apologized.

Days later, it was also found that information maps for the Cheonggye Stream, which is Lee's most symbolic achievement during his Seoul mayorship, omitted temples.

Almost at the same period, police chief Eo appeared on a poster promoting a Christian event for police, aggravating the Buddhist backlash against the government's ``pro-Christian'' attitude.

The Buddhist circle claimed the Lee government discriminates against Buddhism. Following this, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo visited Ven. Jigwan last week and said the government does not lean toward or discriminate against specific religions.

``The search of Ven. Jigwan shows that the prime minister's pledge was in vain. It also shows how coercively police treat people. We believe this case symbolizes how the Lee government disrespects 1,700 years of Korean Buddhist history,'' the spokesman said.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr
 
wooribank
LG group
Top 10 Stories
1'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea 'British Spider-Man' ends 6-month stay in Korea
2Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president Justice minister challenges opposition leader in polls for potential next president
3Kim Bu-gwi, the tallest monk at Hwaeom Temple Kim Bu-gwi, the tallest monk at Hwaeom Temple
4Cadero Grip introduces hybrid golf grip product Cadero Grip introduces hybrid golf grip product
5German scholar lectures on 'Saving Confucius from Confucianism'German scholar lectures on 'Saving Confucius from Confucianism'
6N. Korea's fear over external info grows after Seoul's propaganda leaflets decisionN. Korea's fear over external info grows after Seoul's propaganda leaflets decision
7Hana Bank hosts foreign exchange quiz for employees Hana Bank hosts foreign exchange quiz for employees
8Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s Hunting 'crow thief' on Korea's east coast in 1930s
9Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization Eximbank teams up with US counterpart on decarbonization
10Doubts grow over shareholder activism on Samsung C&T Doubts grow over shareholder activism on Samsung C&T
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] How AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert INTERVIEWHow AmazeVR revolutionizes aespa's LYNK-POP concert
2'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve 'Dune: Part Two': most challenging but proud work, says director Denis Villeneuve
3Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world Kohei Nawa goes 'cosmic' in his disturbingly mesmerizing world
4'12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation '12.12: The Day' goes strong at box office, attracts younger generation
5K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades K-pop's appeal reflected in global accolades
DARKROOM
  • It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

    It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

  • 2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

    2023 Thanksgiving parade in NYC

  • Appreciation of autumn colors

    Appreciation of autumn colors

  • Our children deserve better

    Our children deserve better

  • Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

    Israel-Gaza conflict erupts into war

  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel: 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844
Date of registration: 2020.02.05
Masthead: The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group