By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter

Recent polls show President Lee Myung-bak has been enjoying more popularity than his predecessors did in the third year of their presidency but he appears to be uncomfortable with religious groups taking issue with his policies.

Representatives of the nation's four largest religions, including the Protestant Church, are raising their voices against President Lee's push for the multi-billion dollar four-river restoration project.

What's more, their move could help build a backlash against an alleged attempt by a Grand National Party (GNP) lawmaker to oust the liberal head monk of Bongeun Temple in southern Seoul.

According to Ven. Myoung Jin, GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo expressed doubts to the chairman of the Central Council of the Jogye Order, about the ability of an "anti-government monk leading a temple in affluent Gangnam."

If the allegation turns out to be true, the GNP and the administration could encounter an unexpected reaction, political observers say.

Ahn said the accusation is groundless, claiming that he has had absolutely no contact with Ven. Myoung Jin.

The outspoken monk, however, said the four-term lawmaker was lying as they have met in the past.

President Lee is a devoted Christian and has often been accused of favoring the Protestant Church. Yet, a growing number of Protestants, mostly from smaller and more liberal churches, are vocally against the river restoration work, one of the biggest and most controversial government projects.

For instance, "Christians in Action, Save River" has been holding rallies near the Paldang Reservoir in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, since Feb. 17.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK), the highest decision-making body within the Catholic Church, has also said it is against the plan. The CBCK represents five million Catholic followers.

On March 8, Catholic Solidarity held a press conference, saying it would launch a nationwide resistance movement against the river project.

Joseph Cho Hae-bung, president of the group, says his group is aimed at colleting three million signatures for a petition.

On March 15, leaders of four major religious sects the Protestant and Catholic churches, Won Buddhism and the Jogye Order - gathered for a rally against the project near the Nakdong River.

They claimed that the astronomical amount of taxpayer money poured into the scheme without proper environmental assessment would eventually destroy the environment.

President Lee stressed Monday the importance of harmony between religions, saying the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan and the late Ven. Beop Jeong displayed the virtue of religious harmony by transcending the barriers of their two faiths.

According to a 2005 population consensus, Buddhists accounted for 22.8 percent of the nation's population, whereas Protestants constituted 18.3 percent, and Catholics 10.9 percent.

leeth@koreatimes.co.kr