Ruling party chairman meets religious leaders

Rep. Kim Moo-sung, right, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, shakes hands with Ven. Ja Seung, executive chief of the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order, during his courtesy visit to the Jogye Temple in Jongno, Seoul, Tuesday. Kim called on the Buddhist leader to support the government’s move for structural reform in various areas. / Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

Ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung visited religious leaders Tuesday and asked them to help President Park Geun-hye carry out her social reform plans this year.

Kim met Ja Seung, head of the Jogye Order, the country’s largest Buddhist sect, at Jogye Temple in Jongno-gu, downtown Seoul.

He later stopped at the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) headquarters, also in Jongno-gu, to meet Pastor Lee Young-hoon. Lee is president of the CCK, a cooperative organization of Protestant denominations in Korea.

“The president’s plan for social reform will inevitably bring inconvenience to the people and it is expected to face hurdles,” Kim told Ja. “I ask support from the Buddhists for her to fulfill her goal.”

Ja asked the government to implement the social reforms from a long-term perspective.

“The government should take time to carry out the plan step by step,” he said. “I believe the country will prosper under the efforts of the president and the ruling Saenuri Party.”