The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, May 19, 2022 | 01:49
Roh’s Funeral to Be Imbued With Buddhism
Posted : 2009-05-27 18:38
Updated : 2009-05-27 18:38
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Ven. Ji Kwan, the executive director of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, writes on a banner for the funeral service of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, at the Jogye Temple, central Seoul, Wednesday. The temple said it will make some 2,000 banners for monks and citizens who want to pay their respects to Roh. / Yonhap

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

The last words President Roh Moo-hyun left in a note saved on his computer were: ``Life and death are both just one piece of nature. It's all fate.'' He is also thought to have visited a Buddhist temple near his home before he threw himself off a cliff last Saturday.

These last traces of his life indicate that Roh, though christened at a Catholic church, was close to Buddhism. As such, his funeral is to be imbued with some Buddhist rites, with support and condolences from those from within the religion.

He was christened Justus in 1986, but he often stated that he does not have a particular religion. However, he was apparently close to Buddhism given his wish for cremation.

According to aides to Roh, the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan asked Roh whether he believed in God or not during the presidential campaign and Roh answered ``I believe vaguely.'' Kim again asked why he did not appear to believe absolutely and Roh answered that he was ``wandering,'' indicating that he was not a believer in any particular religion.

Roh's aides stated that though the late President was knowledgeable in various religions, he did not favor a particular one.

``Though Roh was baptized and said he does not belong to any religion, he was very close to Buddhism emotionally,'' an official of the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist sect in Korea, said. ``He grew up in a Buddhist environment. His mother was a sincere Buddhist and he had a small Buddhist image at his home.''

He also said that Buddhism is a religion of mercy and comprehension and would have offered the same condolences and help despite the religion of the ex-head of state.

Moreover, Roh's wife Kwon Yang-sook is a fervent Buddhist. She was given the Buddhist name of ``Daedeokhwa'' ― the same as the late first lady Yuk Young-soo, the wife of the late President Park Chung-hee ― during the presidential campaign and earned support from Buddhist circles.

Police also found evidence that Roh might have visited Jeongtowon, a Buddhist temple at Mt. Bongha behind Roh's home, before he went to Owl Rock.

Sun Jin-Gyu, the chief of the temple, is also from Bongha Village, the late President's hometown. He was a longtime supporter of Roh and the ancestral tablets of Roh's parents are kept at the temple.

``Roh often visited here before the prosecution started an investigation into him and his aides,'' Sun said. ``I didn't know that I would keep Roh's memorial tablet here.''

According to Sun, his 49th Day Ceremony ― the memorial service held on the 49th day after a person's death in Buddhism ― will be held at Jeongtowon as well.

Ven. Ji Kwan, the executive director of the Jogye Order, paid his condolences to Roh in Bonghwa Sunday and consoled the widowed former first lady. The Jogye Order established some 100 memorial altars to commemorate Roh across the nation, including one at Jogye Temple, central Seoul. The Haein Temple sent 300 monks to pay their respects.

Ven. Jeong-u, the head of Tongdo Temple, Monday conducted Roh's coffin ritual following Buddhist principles and consoled his family. He also suggested the temple's dhabi facility for the Buddhist way of cremation to the former head of state's family, but his body will be cremated at Suwon Yeonhwa Crematorium in Gyeonggi Province after a funeral service in Gyeongbok Palace, Friday.

With the funeral a public affair, Buddhist, Christian and Catholic rites will be performed at the official ceremony Friday.

meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
 
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon's efforts to bolster Korea-US alliance will inevitably disturb China
  • Protecting Korea's semiconductor leadership
  • CJ, Ottogi uneasy about Harim's tactics to sell new cooked rice
  • Fear of deadliest famine in 1990s haunts North Korea amid national lockdown
  • Anti-LGBTQ sentiment widespread in Korea: survey
  • South Korea to join US-led Indo-Pacific economic initiative
  • [INTERVIEW] Time to go back to corporation-driven growth: economist
  • South Korea's new COVID-19 cases above 30,000 for 2nd day; Omicron transmission continues to slow
  • North Korea asks China, Russia for help amid COVID crisis: reports
  • Nuclear war danger, Russia and Ukraine
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions
  • Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years
  • Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year
  • PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up' PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up'
DARKROOM
  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

  • Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

    Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

The Korea Times
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
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group