hankyoreh

Buddhists hang lotus lanterns from which hang slips of paper imprinted with slogans calling for the resignation of Eo Cheong-soo, the head of National Policy Agency, inside Jogye Temple on August 7.

Earlier in the day, the group held a Buddhist service in protest against police action against the Venerable Ji-kwan, the administrative head of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. On July 29, police searched the Venerable Ji-kwan’s car, even though they had been informed of who was in the car before they conducted their search.

Approximately 500 Buddhists participated in the service, during which they criticized the administration of President Lee Myung-bak for favoring his religion, which is Christianity. They demanded that the government reflect upon its actions, called on the police chief to resign and asked that a law banning government officials from being influenced by any one religion be enacted.

Park Yeong-hwan, the vice president of an association of Buddhists at Jogye Temple, said, “The Lee Myung-bak administration’s attitude toward Buddhism is a terrible insult to Buddhists.” Park demanded that police, who have surrounded the temple for weeks, withdraw to restore freedom of religion.

Photo by Shin So-yeong/The Hankyoreh.