ID :
188733
Wed, 06/15/2011 - 11:01
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/188733
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Culture minister pays tie-mending visit to largest Buddhist sect
SEOUL, June 15 (Yonhap) -- Culture Minister Choung Byoung-gug paid a visit to the headquarters of the country's largest Buddhist sect for the first time on Wednesday, about a week after the religious body said it would end a standoff with the government over budgetary issues.
According to the ministry and the Jogye Order, Choung sat down with Venerable Jaseung, head of the sect, for about 20 minutes, discussing government policies and the relationship between the state and religious groups.
Choung, who was named minister in January this year, had met Ven. Jaseung at ceremonies, but had never before visited the Jogye Order headquarters.
Their meeting came eight days after Ven. Jaseung declared the Jogye Order would mend fences with the government. The Jogye Order in January this year had banned government officials and lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) from attending Buddhist events, after the GNP railroaded a budget bill last December that slashed state aid for temple stay tourism programs.
Earlier this week, Ven. Jaseung visited Cheong Wa Dae to meet President Lee Myung-bak for the first time in more than a year.
According to Jogye Order, Choung apologized to Ven. Jaseung for causing him and the Buddhist sect "much trouble" in recent months. Choung was also quoted as saying the end of the standoff helped the government and the ruling party to develop a new awareness for traditional culture and to establish new relationships with religious organizations.
"Temple stay programs are a national project that allows people to experience our traditional culture, and it's not about supporting a particular religion," Choung was quoted as saying. "On behalf of the government, I'd like to thank our Buddhists for helping us."
According to the Jogye Order, Ven. Jaseung responded that Choung, as the cabinet minister in charge of religious affairs, should strive to further raise recognition of traditional culture.
Temple stays, run by the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, are programs that allow locals and foreigners to stay in mountainside temples and participate in Zen meditation, early-morning chanting and daily chores. Overnight temple stays have become popular activities for foreign tourists.
According to the ministry and the Jogye Order, Choung sat down with Venerable Jaseung, head of the sect, for about 20 minutes, discussing government policies and the relationship between the state and religious groups.
Choung, who was named minister in January this year, had met Ven. Jaseung at ceremonies, but had never before visited the Jogye Order headquarters.
Their meeting came eight days after Ven. Jaseung declared the Jogye Order would mend fences with the government. The Jogye Order in January this year had banned government officials and lawmakers of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) from attending Buddhist events, after the GNP railroaded a budget bill last December that slashed state aid for temple stay tourism programs.
Earlier this week, Ven. Jaseung visited Cheong Wa Dae to meet President Lee Myung-bak for the first time in more than a year.
According to Jogye Order, Choung apologized to Ven. Jaseung for causing him and the Buddhist sect "much trouble" in recent months. Choung was also quoted as saying the end of the standoff helped the government and the ruling party to develop a new awareness for traditional culture and to establish new relationships with religious organizations.
"Temple stay programs are a national project that allows people to experience our traditional culture, and it's not about supporting a particular religion," Choung was quoted as saying. "On behalf of the government, I'd like to thank our Buddhists for helping us."
According to the Jogye Order, Ven. Jaseung responded that Choung, as the cabinet minister in charge of religious affairs, should strive to further raise recognition of traditional culture.
Temple stays, run by the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, are programs that allow locals and foreigners to stay in mountainside temples and participate in Zen meditation, early-morning chanting and daily chores. Overnight temple stays have become popular activities for foreign tourists.
