A South Korean Buddhist monk Saturday attempted to disembowel himself in protest against what he claims to be religious discrimination by the government, Yonhap News reported quoting police.
According to police, Ven. Sambo wrote a note in his blood reading "Stop discriminating against Buddhism" and attempted a suicide at Jogye Temple in central Seoul. He was taken to a hospital and police said he is not in a life-threatening condition.
President Lee Myung-bak, a devout Christian, has grown increasingly unpopular with the country's Buddhists, who believe their religion is being slighted under his administration.
To demonstrate their discontent, the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist sect, Wednesday organized a rally in front of Seoul City Hall. An estimated 60,000 people participated, including some 10,000 monks.
As a member of the Somang Presbyterian Church, President Lee drew heavily on his church network when appointing his first Cabinet in February. That move drew fire from critics who saw the appointments as religiously partial.
The Lee administration's religious partiality was called into question again when Ven. Jigwan, the head of the Jogye Order, was subjected to an embarrassing police inspection on Jogye Temple grounds in late July.