Lee Seeking to Ease Buddhists’ Complaints
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak is considering holding a meeting with Buddhist leaders to ease complaints over his administration's religious policies and Lee's alleged bias toward Christians.
``President Lee is considering inviting Buddhist leaders to Cheong Wa Dae for talks on religious and social issues over a meal,'' a presidential spokesman said. ``Some presidential secretaries have already met Buddhist leaders to listen to them, but some of their demands are unacceptable.''
Buddhist groups are preparing to hold a massive rally in Seoul Wednesday to protest the government's alleged discrimination against the religion. The rally is feared to turn into a huge anti-Lee demonstration.
Lee, known as a devout Christian, has appointed figures who attend his Somang Presbyterian Church to key posts. He also did not send a congratulatory message to Buddhist groups on the Buddha's Birthday in April, breaking an annual tradition.
Late last month, police searched the car of the Ven. Jigwan, the chief executive of the country's largest Buddhist order Jogye, in front of the order's main temple in Seoul, prompting outrage from monks.
Monks also complain that the government failed to include information about Buddhist temples in satellite-based navigational systems for vehicles, while churches were shown.
Buddhist groups have demanded an apology from the President and measures requiring civil servants to keep religious neutrality.
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon has ruled out religious discrimination by the government.
``The administration neither favors nor discriminates against any religion,'' he told reporters earlier this month.
Organizers of Wednesday's rally said more than 500,000 Buddhists will march. Riot police will reinforce the security of roads leading to the presidential office to prevent protesters from marching toward there.
Buddhist members of the presidential office, including senior presidential secretary for social policy and civil affairs Kang Yoon-koo, have visited temples nationwide to ease Buddhist complaints.