South Korea: Hundreds of monks protest government's 'anti-Buddhist bias' in Seoul

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Hundreds of Buddhist monks belonging to the Jogye Order rallied in Seoul on Friday demanding that President Moon Jae-in apologise for the government’s ‘anti-Buddhist bias’ after a ruling party MP accused temples of collecting admission fees to national parks.

Lawmaker Jung Chung-rae from the ruling Democratic Party attracted widespread criticism from South Korea’s largest Buddhist group by comparing temples collecting fees to a legendary swindler character, Seondal, who sold water from a river.

“He has treated us like tax-stealing brigands and compared us to Seondal to frame us as a group of frauds. Ladies and gentlemen, we can no longer simply accept the government’s distorted religious bias and attacks toward Buddhism and our traditional culture,” announced Deok-moon, a Jogye Order monk.

Temples located in national parks charge between 3,000 to 4,000 won ($2,50; €2,20 - $3,00; €2,96) in park fees from all park visitors. The monks attribute the fee to taking care of the temples inside the parks.

The Joyge Order held the rally at its headquarters in Jogyesa Temple, located in central Seoul, marking the first time in 14 years since the group had organised a protest.

SOUNDBITES:

SOT, Deok-moon, Jogye Order Member (Korean): “[Lawmaker Jung Chung-rae] has treated us like tax-stealing brigands and compared us to Seondal, to frame us as a group of frauds. Ladies and gentlemen, we can no longer simply accept the government’s distorted religious bias and attacks toward Buddhism and our traditional culture.”

SOT, Won-haeng, Jogye Order Member (Korean): “Thus, we hope to remove the curtain of conflict and discrimination that has overcome our society to prevent social discord from discrimination, and prepare policies that will prevent religious bias and discrimination due to political powers, so that a giant wave of sustainability, harmony, and integration can be achieved.”

SOT, Han Dong-hoon, Businessman(Korean): “For example, because the president is Catholic, many Buddhists have felt that the government’s financial support has been in favor of Catholicism and that everything is biased.”

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