Korea`s largest Buddhist order elects new leader

SEOUL, Oct. 22 (Yonhap) -- Ven. Jaseung, a relatively young and progressive
Buddhist priest who chairs a scholarship foundation, was elected as the new head
of South Korea's largest Buddhist order of Jogye on Thursday, garnering over 90
percent of support from his colleagues.
Jaseung, 55, will hold the post for four years, administrating 2,501 Buddhist
temples nationwide, 13,860 priests and an annual budget of some 30 billion won
(US$25 million) belonging to the religious order.
Korean Buddhism has its roots going back some 1,200 years to the ancient Unified
Silla kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.) that accepted the religion from China.
The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism was officially established in 1962 with the
three main goals of training and education, sutra translation into Korean from
Chinese characters, and propagation.
"I will strive to open a new future of Korean Buddhism," Jaseung said after his
election. "I also plan to focus on achieving active communication and harmony
between all Buddhist orders."
Among 320 eligible voters, 317 cast their ballots in Thursday's election, with
290 voting in favor of Ven. Jaseung as the 33rd leader. Jaseung, currently the
chief director of the Eunjung Buddhist Promotion Institute, a scholarship
foundation, competed with older candidates Ven. Gakmyeong, 58, and Ven. Daewu,
64.
Born 1954 in Gangwon Province, Jaseung joined the Jogye Order in 1986 and has
served as the chief of the financial and administration affairs bureaus.
He will take over the post from his predecessor, Ven. Jigwan, on Oct. 31 after
the senior members confirm his election.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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