NIS pressures Jogyesa Temple to cancel progressive civic event

Posted on : 2010-01-30 15:06 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
An official of Jogyesa Temple says the NIS’s pressure on the temple officials is a terrific burden and a misuse of public authority
 which had played an important role in the candlelight vigil demonstrations of 2008 demanding a public weigh-in on trade
which had played an important role in the candlelight vigil demonstrations of 2008 demanding a public weigh-in on trade

Allegations have been made that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was able to force the cancellation of an event hosted by progressive civic groups by putting pressure on the venue, Jogyesa Temple. Coming on the heels of the NIS’s defamation suit against lawyer Park Won-soon and its demand that a gallery remove artwork that lampoons President Lee Myung-bak, it seems more than likely that the NIS’s actions will spark controversy for overstepping the bounds of authority.



Lee Sae-yong, the head of Jogyesa’s general affairs, told the Hankyoreh Friday in an interview that a Mr. Kwon Yeol, an NIS official in charge of communication with Jogyesa, called him on Thursday morning to tell him that an anti-government demonstration would be taking place at Jogyesa. The NIS official also noted that the head of the Jogye Order, the Venerable Jaseung, would be visiting North Korea, and asked that someone put a stop to the political demonstration. Ultimately, at noon, the temple’s head monk retracted permission for the event. Lee said at 2:00 p.m., he was called in by the head monk, and found the head monk meeting with Mr. Kwon of the NIS.


The event for which permission was removed was called “Building Love for Fools,” which was scheduled to be held at Jogyesa from Jan. 31 to Feb 7. It was prepared by civic groups that came together for the 2008 candlelight vigil demonstrations such as Speak the Truth, SoulDresser, Candle Sharing and People’s Square. After using 1000 ramyeon boxes to build a 10m high model of the Cheomseongdae Observatory, they had planned to distribute the ramyeon to those in need. During the event, they also planned to perform plays on themes such as opposition to the privatization of health care, opposition to the privatization of public corporations, calling for a end to the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, and refusing to pay viewer fees to KBS. Jogyesa’s religious affairs committee gave permission for the event in December of last year.



Lee said this marks the first time an event approved by the religious affairs committee had been cancelled, and called the NIS’s phone call a terrific burden and a misuse of public authority.

Park Eun-jeong, a member of Speak the Truth’s steering committee, said they had prepared to distribute ramyeon to the needy and to remove threats to the lives of the poor through opposing the privatization of public corporations. Park said the fact that the NIS has threatened and interfered in even helping the poor shows the absurdity that has become a reality in South Korea, where freedom of expression is limited. The civic groups reportedly will convene the event after they find a new venue.



In response, a high-ranking official from the NIS said it is customary for Kwon, as an officer responsible for Buddhist affairs, to contact Jogyesa for various reasons, but he has never called the temple to ask that an event be canceled.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

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